06 Mar 2022

Recognition of only 8 tribes presents national inbalance

Until such a time that Chiefs representing their Merafe in Ntlo ya Dikgosi are recognised by Section 78 of the constitution as equals to Chiefs of the eight merafe, the concept of inclusivity and balance will continue to haunt the nation.

A resident of Goodhope, Mr Lesego Gatogang said this when making his submissions before the Presidential Commission of Enquiry into Review of the Constitution in Goodhope on Friday.
Section 78 recognises as ex-officio members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi only dikgosi from the eight tribes namely; Bakgatla, Bakwena, Balete, Bangwato, Barolong, Batawana and Batlokwa.

The constitution, in particular Section 78 subsections 1 and 2 provides for election and nomination of persons from others jurisdictions; something that clearly does not sit well with Mr Gatogang. “A di ex-officio di okediwe.

A Merafe e mengwe e tsene re e lemoge mo constitution,” he said arguing the era of big and minority tribes had been passed by events and should duly be recognised as such.; Kgosi Johane Leshomo of Ramatlabama underscored Mr Gatogang’s sentiments and proposed that the title Kgosikgolo should be clearly spelt out in the constitution.

That, he said, should tag along establishment of a ministry responsible for culture and bogosi. “Nako e gorogile gape gore go tlhongwe lephata la bogosi le le tla a bong le itebagantse le dikgang tsotlhe tse di amanang le Ngwao.”

Furthermore Kgosi Leshomo called for striking off of the term Kgosana saying it was demeaning and an affront to the Setswana culture and norm. The youthful Kgosi also felt hard done by the concept of voting or election of dikgosi arguing that the idea denigrated the noble institution of bogosi.

He further called for res-establishment of local police service, which worked in tandem with dikgosi especially in administering summons and punishments. “Let us also return the local police unit and corporal punishment at the kgotla, especially administering it on the bare back to instill discipline,” he said.

Kgosi Letlaamoreng II had earlier on accentuated the need to reinstate lashing on the bare back of ill-behaved people to instil proper behaviour in society. He blamed abolition of the punishment saying it was part of the reason bad behaviour had become rampant. “Ga re itse molato wa thupa e. Ga re ise re bone lebitla la ga ope gotwe ke la thupa. Bana ba gompieno ga bana tsebe ka ntata ya go emisiwa ga thupa ya mokwatla.”

Another speaker, Mr Fankie Motsaathebe submitted that the envisioned constitution should embrace second generational rights to among others health and education.

Mr Sehularo Molatedi called for absolute autonomy of crime- busting agencies such as DCEC and Ombudsman. Such oversight institutions, he deliberated should be led at by judge-level officers, he said.

Mr Gopolang Molefi’s wish was for the constitution to bind the sitting president to appoint to the executive, some members from the opposition aisle to enhance democracy. Deputy paramount Chief, Kgosi Botiki Motshegare applauded President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s decision to accord Batswana the opportunity to become engineers of their own constitution.

His wish was for the supreme law of the land was for it to provide for for dual-citizenship. ENDS