Khama has no powers to remove Serogola as Deputy

Innocent Selatlhwa | Wednesday October 2, 2024 10:19

This is as Bogosi Act gives the Minister powers to protect Mothusa Kgosi as they cannot be removed without his involvement. Even though the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Kgotla Autlwetse, and Serogola would not be dragged into discussing the return of Khama, Mmegi has established that due to Serogola being a public servant and holding his own position of Deputy Kgosi which he will serve alongside Khama if he can make it to the Kgotla. Serogola, who is backed by the current regime, is said to be intending not to make way for Khama, but rather serve alongside him as his Deputy until he retires. Looking at how irreparable their relationship seems to be, Bagammangwato could have a long way before attaining peace at their Kgotla. Before Khama took to the podium to address Bagammangwato over the weekend, royal uncles Rasebolai Kgamane and Mokhutshwane Sekgoma lamented how much Serogola had made them suffer in Khama’s absence. They decried that he denied them the use of the Kgotla to discuss issues affecting Khama and other issues.

The royal uncles have been complaining about Serogola since 2022. According to the uncles, ever since April 2022, Serogola has not made any efforts to call a meeting for replacement of former regent Sediegeng Kgamane nor consulting them on anything. They now believed he does not want to make way for the rightful regent. “It all started with Serogola refusing to allow us to hold a meeting to address morafe on various issues including replacing Kgamane and of course the well-being of the main Kgosi Ian Khama. He kept avoiding us until the day we wanted the meeting to be held and said he was unavailable. We then let Khama know and they spoke but nothing happened until sometime when we insisted on holding a meeting. He would then tell us a day before our meeting that we would not be allowed into the kgotla to speak politics about Ian Khama. And they called armed police on us to stop the meeting,” Rasebolai Kgamane said. Kgamane said Serogola called a meeting with the uncles where he vented out that he was being disrespected as people held meetings without him. They said this shocked them as he was refusing to give them an ear. The former president, through his attorney Tapiwa Abel, early this year filed a case before the Maun High Court’s Justice Bugalo Maripe with Khama and Seretse Peter as the first and second applicants, while the minister and Attorney General are the first and second respondents.

According to the notice of motion, Khama wants the court to order a writ of mandamus (an order from a court to an inferior government official ordering the government official to properly fulfil their official duties or correct an abuse of discretion), compelling the minister to perform his statutory duty under Section 7(2) of the Bogosi Act. He wants the minister to be ordered to appoint Seretse Peter Khama as Motshwarelela Bogosi (regent) of the Bagammangwato tribe by an appointing notice published in the Government Gazette. With the case not having progressed due to multiple recusal of judges, Khama has since said he wants to take over. He said he was concerned that the one who is currently in the Kgotla has become big headed. “He thinks he is the Kgosi and he is dividing us. I think the time has come that I take over as your Kgosikgolo and serve you at the Serowe Kgotla,” he said. Khama said it was time he took over and be able to meet Bagammangwato everywhere. “These people are disrespecting and dividing us. I must now take over as Kgosi and try to fix. It is not nice being outside and hearing things are not going well. I am going to make sure there is peace and unity between all of us. I will be representing all of you and I will be able to go around the country meeting people as Kgosi and also as former president,” he said.

Contacted for a comment, Autlwetse said he was not in a position to do so. “We have heard of the said intentions to return to the Kgotla. But I am not in a position to discuss anything in relation to the matter until it is on my table. Also remember that there is currently a court case on the matter, therefore I am not in a position to comment. In a previous interview last year, Autlwetse rubbished the claims by the royal uncles. 'As far as we are concerned, Serogola is in charge, whoever wants to use the Kgotla writes to him and he would call that meeting. In terms of replacing the regent, royal uncles should consult Serogola and he would call a meeting to tell Morafe about their chosen regent,' he said. Autlwetse said Khama was out of order to write a letter to the Director of Tribal Administration claiming to nominate his chosen regent. 'He should know that he is not in office and should write to Serogola. The only letterhead we recognise is from the Bangwato Tribal Administration. If they do not do things right, Serogola will continue being there. Also, the current arrangement does not in any way disrupt our work as there is someone at the Kgotla,' he said. However, when responding to court papers, Autlwetse said Khama was a fugitive from justice who could not bring a case to court. Also, he challenges Khama’s appointment and gazetting as Kgosi, a factor that can lead to Khama’s delayed return to the Kgotla. For his part, Serogola said he was busy working and had no time to comment on the matter. This publication had wanted to establish from him if he is ready to quit the Kgotla or if he will work alongside Khama if he succeeds in taking over the throne.