10 Dec 2020

 When he moves around the village of Maun, it is like he enjoys his presence to be felt. He moves with confidence and a sense of pride.

His uniqueness revolves around his carrying of more than ten pens in his stylish safari shirt.

Those who are close to him describe him as a Godly man because of his positions in the society while some see in him a strict leader. But if one takes time to know him, he/she would find a man of integrity, a Godly man with clean conscience.

This is none other than Maun-born Reverend Kgosi Kegaisamang Ramokwena of Boseja ward.

He is one of the village leaders who is highly respected because of his personality. He is a man of many hats; traditional leader, a pastor, a farmer, a mentor and a physical fitness enthusiast. The ever smiling old man always has kind and encouraging words to say.

In an interview, Rev. Kgosi Ramokwena revealed that he believed that respect was not automatically bestowed on someone but one had to earn it especially when one is a traditional leader.

He explained that respect for himself and others was the recipe for good character adding that he enjoyed life’s challenges and learnt from everything that happened in his life.

Rev. Kgosi Ramokwena said he treated all equally irrespective of their backgrounds, but emphasised that he does not tolerate people who undermine others.

Asked about his unique clothing and the pens he always carries, Rev. Kgosi Ramokwena was quick to point out that the pens symbolise the books of the Law of Moses in the Bible.

The first pen, he said represented the book of Joshua, while four represented four books in New Testament while the five and sixth pens symbolised acts of the Apostle and the book of Paul writing to the Romans respectively.

“Each pen has its own meaning and they are symbols that I respect in the Bible. I have realised that many people read the Bible but they do not understand its interpretation. With my stylish clothing, I just want to look simple and smart. That’s all,” he said with a smile. Even at church, he said he does not believe in wearing big gowns like other pastors because he believes in beautifying the spirit not the body.

Kgosi Ramokwena is currently a full time traditional leader, a pastor and a farmer and one would wonder how he balances all the roles.

He explains that he relies much on God to provide him with understanding of situations adding that he believes that God would never put him through trials that he had not prepared him for.

He said God had strengthened him to divide his time wisely and he executed all his duties diligently. “Everything was a calling and I have time to conduct bogosi errands every day, then visit my farm after work because that is where my life is. I also attend church services without failure because that is where I feed my spirit and others,” he added.

Although, he notes that he loves all the roles, he narrates that farming became his hobby at the age of 21 years after he sold all his business assets.

He recalls that he started with one young beast which multiplied and later sold some because he wanted to own a ranch. After buying a ranch at Hainaveld, he said he stopped selling and focused on rearing high breed cattle.

Currently, he is a proud and prosperous farmer who owns a big ranch and runs a successful project. Proper management and good farming practices, he said were the secret behind his success.

With regard to his spiritual life, he stated that growing up in a family of devoted Christians made him to repent at the age of twelve and since then he never looked back and started preaching the good news. Kgosi Ramokwena later enrolled with Kgolagano College to study theology for five years at the same time working as a supporting pastor at his beloved church UCCSA.

Currently, he is a full pastor at Matlapana UCCSA. He was installed a Kgosi in 1991 and he is a member of Ntlo ya Dikgosi. Kgosi Ramokwena who believes in praying regularly, explained that prayer was the most powerful weapon in every situation and advised the general public to turn their eyes unto God while there is time.

He also encourages people to perform at the best of their abilities in all that they do to become more prosperous. “With God nothing is impossible, one has to exercise patience and eventually receive the blessings,” he added.

Bob Marley once said “The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively”.

The phrase resonates well with  Rev. Kgosi Ramokwena’ character as he is a unique and resourceful person who has the ability to do whatever it takes to succeed and to support those in need. Ends