03 Jul 2022

Once again the issue of tribal equality came up as the Presidential Commission of Review on the Constitution took its consultative meetings to Kgalagadi recently. 

This time around, it was brought by a long-serving member of Ntlo ya Dikgosi, Kgosi David Toto II who said it must be enshrined in the constitution for every district to have a paramount chief. “Re kopa gore maemo a kgosikgolo a tsene mo molao motheong. Dikgaolo tsotlhe di nne le bokgosikgolo. Ke raya Bo-maapara-nkwe, go tsene mo molao motheong go rurifadiwe,” he said. 

The constitution, he said must build a culture of recognition and tolerance of other tribe’s cultural heritage. He said, “During at the time Botswana was a British protectorate our forefathers were there ka magosi a bone ka thulaganyo e e haphegileng. Bangwe ba bone ba ne ba emetse dikgaolo tsa bone on the then African Advisory Council which convened at Mafikeng at the time. Some minority tribes, because of low population numbers were somehow not captured well in the constitution hence the need to embrace them under the new constitution.” 

Kgosi Toto II, also called for preservation of integrity of the institution of Bogosi, which he said had been a pillar of democracy and national unity, development as well as guardian of ethnicity and social values. He also called for hierarchical structure of bogosi to be generic nationwide. Bogosi in Kgalagadi had three key positions while in other districts there were more positions, he said. 

Thanking the government for the consultative process, he said in as much as it was time it was reviewed appreciation must be rendered as it had thus far served the nation well promoting inclusion and peaceful co-existence. He cited the case of Kgalagadi District, which though made up of different tribes co-existed peacefully. 

“They have respected each other and built strong relations through weddings and generally working collectively even in the phase of adversity, the elders never allowed tribalism to cause confusion. The tribal also leadership played a critical role in building the foundation as they respected each other’s culture and spoke each other’s language,” he said. 

Lastly, Kgosi Toto said owing to the significant role played by dikgosi, the constitution should give them powers and responsibility to resolve dogosi disputes.

Maubelo resident Mr Frans Brooks and Mr Hoteit Samson of Tsabong supported the Kgosi. 

Meanwhile Mr Moroka Tumaeletse called for abolition of dikgosi election saying only those who ascended to the position by birth ought to be recognised.

With regard to politic, he said pol councilors and MPs across the political divide should serve at most two terms. He also called for the constitution to be reviewed every 25 years. 

Mr Tumaeletse also suggested that Kgalagadi District should be renamed ‘South West District’ or ‘Molopo’.

Furthermore, he said, Tshabong name as stipulated in the constitution should be re-named Tsabong. Ends