Kgari puts Tsolamosese Bogosi row to rest

NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE
Correspondent | Monday March 26, 2012 00:00

 

The impasse at Block 7 region of Tsolamosese had been running for two years as traditionalists wanted to appoint the natural owners of the land to the post while the residents, mainly those who have settled in Block 7 to work in Gaborone, also had their own choice.

Arguments over who should be the headman at Block7 surfaced following the death of the then leader, Ranko Ramonna. Kgosi Kgari said it was the first time he attended a case where residents fought over the headman's post, 'dintwa tsa bogosana'. He called on the residents to choose and give reasons why they thought their preferred candidates deserved the job so he could evaluate the contenders.

According to Ben Sedidi, who originates from Molepolole but lives in Tsolamosese, Moilwe Masasa, is the one whom Block 7 residents chose as he has always been there for them since they settled there. He said that Masasa led them and made sure he gave them all the help he could possibly offer them.

He said that when Ranko, who was chosen by Masasa to succeed him due to ill health, died, they came together and decided to choose Victor to inherit his father's post because they did not want to be led by a stranger.

Victor Selaledi, the late headman's (Ramonna) uncle, told the Kgotla that he is the one who took his nephew to Mogoditshane Kgotla where Kgosi Dihutso endorsed him to be the Block 7 headman. 'Unfortunately Ramonna died within two months in the post. After his death we chose his brother Ratobela Leburane to succeed him but during the time that we were supposed to appoint him the residents had already chosen another person,' he added.

As everyone tried to justify why they had chosen their favourite candidates, Selaledi family strongly told Kgosi Kgari that they were entitled to the post as Block7 belongs to their forefathers. They said that before the landboard took their land the whole region belonged to the Selaledi family.

Amongst those who were listening to the heated argument was Kgosi Letlole Mosielele of Mmankgodi who told the gathering that he did not know why they had to argue about the land while the main issue was the post of headman.

He told the Selaledi family that they were making the argument over an issue that did not concern them. He said that all Tsolamosese land belongs to Kgosi Manyane Mokgalagadi who resides in Mmankgodi. He also said the land belongs to Bahurutshe, something that puzzled the gathering.

Kgosi Mosielele said that it was high time Selaledi acknowledged that Block7 was a developing township.He said that if they want the chieftaincy they should go and fight for it in Gabane where as their Kgotla is as Block 7 no longer belongs to them.