14 Jan 2013

Residents of Radisele say funds and assets belonging to the Bamangwato Development Association (BDA) should benefit all Bangwato communities as was the case years back.

The association is a cooperative initiative that was started around 1950 by the then Bangwato regent, Kgosi Tshekedi Khama.

Radisele deputy chief, Kgosi Mokeresete Ntebele said the BDA issue had long irked Radisele residents because it did not serve the purpose it was established for.

Kgosi Ntebele said the association was formed to benefit Radisele, Pilikwe, Mahalapye and Palapye residents, but it now benefited the Pilikwe community only.

He said the issue would be settled when all the communities benefit from the initiative.

He said the association owned a farm near Pilikwe as well as buildings that were used as a supermarket in Radisele.

Kgosi Ntebele, who was once employed by the supermarket, said the dilapidated building was an eye sore.

Reminiscing about his days as a manager in the supermarket, he said BDA was a source of employment for the Bangwato communities, adding that due to poor management the store was closed.

The only remaining source of income for BDA, he said, was the farm which was used for raising livestock.

He said his community was not consulted about the operation of the farm even though they were beneficiaries of BDA.

Kgosi Ntebele said BDA was a viable initiative that could contribute to the development of the four Bangwato villages.

He said he and his community would like to see the association up and running so that it could serve the purpose it was intended for.

He said the Radisele community had no intention of taking up the issue with the courts of law, but that they sought good working relationships with the affected communities .

He said BDA had a constitution that stipulated its beneficiaries, something that the former Central District commissioner, Mr Tlale Setumo disputed during a kgotla meeting addressed by President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama in Radisele last year.

Mr Setumo said then that the BDA issue was complicated since the association had no constitution and urged those who wanted to pursue the matter to do so through the courts.

He said it was difficult to ascertain BDA owners and the beneficiaries since there was no constitution to refer to.

He said he and Bangwato regent, Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane had done their best to consult the affected communities to investigate the origins of BDA, and that their efforts were futile. END