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Botswana: Bogosi Should Reflect Local Culture
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The Voice (Francistown)
8 April 2008
Posted to the web 8 April 2008
Francistown
MP for Shoshong, Duke Lefhoko, says the Bogosi Bill is a replica of the Chieftainship Act except for a few changes.
Debating the bill, he said, he had hoped that the bill would present an opportunity to remove some of "the degrading sections of the Chieftainship Act"
Lefhoko asked if Botswana wanted to perpetuate the agenda of colonisers, whom he said their agenda couldn't be said to be in concert with that of Botswana.
He said Parliament should take an opportunity to re-conceive bogosi through the eyes of Botswana and not through the eyes of colonisers.
The MP, who lamented that not enough consultation was done, pleaded with the minister to meet and discuss the bill with MPs.
"We need to caucus a bit," he pleaded.
Lefhoko said he consulted with dikgosi in his constituency and they raised several concerns about the bill. One of the concerns raised was the issue of retirement. He said the bill sought to change the Setswana customs and make dikgosi to retire while on the other hand acknowledging that bogosi was a birth right.
Lefhoko said dikgosi believed that the bogosi institution should be left with its peculiarities.
Also they believe that evil would befall the heir and tribe if the former was instaled when kgosi is still alive.
Regarding appointment of mothusa kgosi and motshwarelela kgosi, Lefhoko said his electorates were of the opinion that the minister usurped the customary role of morafe.
He said dikgosi in his constituency felt the minister should stay away from appointing the two and that the two should be chosen by morafe, as is the case with other representatives to Ntlo ya Dikgosi.
Lefhoko noted that the bill does not mention the royal family, which he said was an indication that the bill perpetuated the thinking that anyone can be a kgosi.
He also noted a clause in the bill that states that the minister can unilaterally take disciplinary action against a kgosi, is "misplaced when it comes to democratic dispensation" and that it should be expunged.
The MP said he was worried that Parliament wanted to proceed with haste when dealing with the bill.
"If there is pressure to satisfy the dictates of the judiciary, why don't we leave other issues to another day," he asked. Lefhoko was also weary of clauses in the bill that he said seemed to be addressing persons of certain individuals in society.
Francistown West MP, Tshelang Masisi said he did not support the bill. He raised concern that the bill did not say anything about paramount chiefs, a clear indication that bogosi is slowly being politicised.
Masisi also complained that the minister's interference should be reduced, adding that in Setswana culture, disciplining a kgosi is done by senior members of the royal family.
The issue of retirement was also a concern for Masisi, saying the age of retirement should be decided by an individual kgosi.
He said customary court presidents were also called dikgosi, which he said gave an impression that anyone could be a kgosi.
He suggested that another name or title should be given the court presidents to avoid confusion.
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Masisi requested that the minister to consult Batswana on the bill. He however appreciated the introduction of pension for dikgosi. BOPA
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