Kgafela must come back home first – Khama
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President Lt Gen Dr Seretse Khama played his cards close to his chest when asked if Bakgatla’s paramount Chief Kgafela Kgafela II will be recognized by the government of Botswana anytime soon.
Khama told the multitudes that thronged the Kgotla during his farewell meeting in Mochudi this week that government is not fighting with the tribe and they would recognize him if he applied for Botswana citizenship. The outgoing president has endured sour relations with the tribe after Kgafela was charged for a number of transgressions which saw the latter fleeing to South Africa and denouncing his Botswana citizenship. The tribe wanted to know the status of their chieftaincy as Khama is about to step down.
“The government is not fighting with you. I can only recognize the one who is in Botswana and who is a Motswana,” Khama said referring to the deputy chief Bana Sekai. “You can ask Kgosikgolo to come here, I will recognize him, but he should ask for citizenship of which I will give. As you know we once had a problem with one of the members of the royal family and it’s a history I don’t want to dwell much on but I have pardoned him so I can do the same with him,” he said amid a thunderous applause.
The president who is left with only six weeks before his term elapses highlighted to Bakgatla that; “Kgosi should do it fast because my time is gone as president.” Ever since the current regime took over in 2008, the tribe has always been steadfast on their position that the leadership of this country is mistreating them. The usually jovial president said he would meet with them especially Kgosi Sekai, to iron out anything that may arise.
However responding to Khama’s statement on their Kgosi Kgolo, Mochudi West Member of Parliament, Gilbert Mangole said Khama is unclear on the matter. “We heard him very well that they would recognize him officially when he comes back, but he forgot to tell us about the warrant of arrest on Kgabo. They said that immediately when he touches down, he would be arrested,” he told this paper in the sidelines of the meeting.
Kgafela’s regiment leader, Moagi Molebatsi concurred with Mangole. “The big question to Khama would be why did Kgabo denounce his Botswana citizenship and opted for a South African one. Our constitution says it allows for dual citizenship and by the time he fled it was not yet enacted. Secondly he should call Kgabo himself so that they dialogue about this, considering the pros and cons of the matter.”
Molebatsi says if Kgafela can come to Botswana a lot of stuff will remain stagnant in South Africa and government should understand that he is leading both Bakgatla in Moruleng and in Botswana. It is anticipated that even in the post Khama administration Bakgatla will continue to dialogue over their paramount chief.
The president promised Bakgatla that their P175 million hospital was now back on National Development Plan (NDP) 11 and drawings will commence next year with the building slated for 2020. Khama received 11 cattle, 13 goats, six sheep and 30 chickens as farewell gifts plus P44 000.
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Malawi appeals for help over Cyclone Freddy at PAP
As of yesterday evening, the death toll from the Cyclone in Malawi had risen from the initially reported 190 to 225 in a short period of time, over 20 000 people have been displaced, and the worst of fears are yet to come as the fatalities continue to mount. This was reported by a Malawi Member of Parliament attending the Pan African Parliament session in Midrand, South Africa, Hon Steven Mikiya.
Mikiya was giving a statement on behalf of Malawi as the ongoing Pan African Parliament in South Africa.
Mikiya said the Cyclone has wreaked the most havoc in our country’s Southern Region. “The Southern Region, has been hardest hit with widespread heavy rains and strong winds. This caused a rapid rise in water levels and subsequent flooding. Meanwhile, power supply has been disrupted, roads blocked off and rendered impassable and mudslides have also been widely reported,” he said.
He made a special appeal to the PAP: “Where I come from, there is a parable which I would like to share with you which says, “mzako weniweni umamudziwa panthawi ya mavuto.” Simply put, a friend in need is a friend indeed or put loosely, a person who helps at a difficult time is a friend you can rely on.”
Mikiya continued: “Yes! Misfortune has knocked on our door and left in its wake a trail of death and destruction that may take years to fully recover from. However, amidst these difficulties, I have every reason to believe that sometimes when you are in a dark place and think you have been buried, you have actually been planted. My belief, Mr. President, arises out of my faith in this gathering and out of the conviction that it is not coincidental that Cyclone Freddy hit Malawi and Mozambique while the delegations of both countries are here.”
According to Mikiya, the level of destruction, the loss of life, property and the decimation of the entire fabric of established communities has been unprecedented. He noted that all this, is coming at a time when Malawi was starting to show signs of recovery from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that also came hard on the heels of Cyclone Ana and Cyclone Gombe that left a similar trail of devastation and destruction in Malawi and neighbouring countries.
As of Sunday, this week, from the 12th of March, Malawi and Mozambique have been facing the devastating effects of Cyclone Freddy that made a landfall over Mozambique on Saturday the 11th and reached Malawi by Sunday the 12th of March.
The Malawi legislator said he has absolute faith in the Pan African Parliament, which he described as “a league of nations brought together by a shared ancestry, history, identity as well as our beloved continent which we inhabit”.
Meanwhile, Malawi President, Lazarus Chakwera, has declared a State of Disaster in the affected areas effectively appealing for local and international support for the affected families.
Mikiya appealed to the Pan African Parliament drawing “positive” inspiration from Europe which rallied around Turkey after the destructive earthquakes to bring the much-needed relief and humanitarian aid to the people of Turkey.
He said Africa should demonstrate to the world that the African Union and its Organs are not mere talk shows, but effective institutions which stand up when it matters most.
“Alone, it may take us a lifetime to fully recover, but together, in the Pan-Africanist spirit of Ubuntu, our lives and livelihoods will return to a semblance of normality in record time. This is the time to live by our operative mantra, “One Africa, One Voice.” Mikiya concluded.