25 May 2022

The mood was sombre at Serowe main kgotla Wednesday morning, at a meeting convened by Bangwato royal uncles, to inform the community about the passing of Ms Jacqueline Khama, first born and only daughter to Botswana’s founding president, Sir Seretse Khama and Lady Ruth.

A mother, sister, grandmother and aunt, Jackie as many fondly called her, took her last on Tuesday in Gaborone. Ms Khama, it was stated, had not been well for some time.

As it is the norm in Setswana culture and perhaps a way to ease the pain of losing a mother as the uncles referred to Ms Khama, the meeting was held in a style similar to funeral prayers (merapelo), punctuated with hymns.

“Re mo nakong e thata. E re go le maabane jaana fa ke ntse ke dikologa le tona, ra utlwalela fa Mongwato, mong-wa-rona a tlhokafetse. Mme ka e le tshwanelo, kana e le tsamaiso, fa re ntse re sebaseba, kgang ya go latolela morafe ya nna teng,” Kgosi Serogola  Seretse announced that he learnt of Ms Khama’s passing while on official trip and arrangements were made to inform the morafe.

Kgosi Sekgoma said as the royal uncles, they took cue from the royal family regarding funeral arrangements.

He said it was the royal family’s call to state how things should be done. Kgosi Sekgoma said Ms Khama deserved all the respect befitting a royal mother and elder.

A message from former president, Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, that he also posted on his facebook page was read out to the crowd.

It read in part, “death is not something foreign to us as we have lost both our parents but the passing of our beloved Jackie, sister, mother, grandmother and aunt has filled us with deep grief and loss. It makes no sense but there is hope. Hope brought about by the immeasurable support coming from home and abroad.” Funeral arrangemenst are still being planned and will be announced as they unfold.

Prayers start Wednesday at Serowe main kgotla. Ends