Thamaga bogosi war divides residents
● Tribal leaders prefer a man ● Residents say ‘no’
Thamaga chieftainship troubles have been brewing for a while and now it seems things have taken a turn for the worst as residents and tribal leaders are divided on the matter of a suitable heir to the throne.
What seemed like was going to be a straightforward handover of the throne from Segale Gobuamang as the acting kgosana to one of the three daughters of the late Kgosi Gobuamang Gobuamang as their father’s successors, has now turned into a war of words.
It has been alleged that tribal leaders, including Moshupa chief, Kgosi Kgabosetso Mosielele II are opposed to installing a woman as chief and that many are rooting for one Billy Gobuamang who is the brother to the late Kgosi Gobuamang and uncle to the challenged heirs.
Initially it was reported that Billy was in support of his late brother’s daughters (his nieces) to reclaim the throne, but along the way he changed his mind and made his ambitions clear that he was also eyeing the throne.
His intention to succeed his late brother and the leaders’ backing has divided the residents as some want one of the daughters to succeed their late father. In a kgotla meeting that was held last week, residents came in numbers to make their voices heard on the debacle. One resident, Tebogo Ramotlhagodi, said as morafe they instructed the tribal leaders to go back and hold discussions and come up with solutions on the issue. “As it stands, it seems like the discussions failed and they will continue to fail. But as we know as the tribe the name has always been Gobuamang and that is what we should stick with. The succession should be that way,” he said.
Baita Podile said he had expected one of the late Kgosi Gobuamang’s daughters to take over the throne when their father passed on without any objection. He explained that it was surprising that they are gathered in the kgotla going back and forth with bogosi when there was a clear successor. “I wonder had Kgosi Gobuamnag borne a son would we be here arguing about who the suitable candidate for the throne is? We all know that Kgosi Gobuamang had daughters and one of them is the successor to the throne. Are we going to deny them just because they are women? That should not be the case,” he said.
Another resident, Rre Dipate in support of the heirs of Kgosi Gobuamang explained that the daughters are legitimate and need to be given their throne without any resistance. He noted that it should not be a debate because everyone knows that the late Kgosi had daughters and it was evident that in the absence of a son, one of the sisters would be her father’s successor.
Lesedi Bexster, another sympathiser of the late Kgosi’s daughters, said it is disheartening that Kgosi Mosielele is sowing seeds of discord instead of supporting a daughter as the rightful heir to the throne. “He should be the one leading by example because now the residents are being divided as some are listening to him and are influenced by his words. “I request that the elders go back to the drawing board and come up with a solution that will unite the nation instead of dividing it as we are witnessing now. It is not a good sight, to be honest,” he said.
Another sympathiser to the heirs, Sebutsheng Pheko said those who are against one of the late Gobuamang’s daughters taking the throne should explain why. She explained to the tribe that she was surprised by the turn of events.
Gopolang Tsoloko, another of the heirs’ supporters said they attended kgotla as a tribe knowing that they were going to be told who the candidate was amongst the daughters but “we are not happy that is not the case”. Tsoloko said as residents they should agree to allow the elders to go back and have a discussion and try not to fuel animosity amongst the heirs.
“If they come back to us and they have not agreed then we will decide to vote a Kgosana just like we do with politics because Thamaga cannot remain without a leader,” Tsoloko said.
Mosipule Mogorosi, another resident said: “We were here the other day with two names and we came back today looking for one name. It is disheartening that now that one name is being questioned. In the end, we are not going to vote for a kgosana as we do for elections. Bogosi is a succession and that is what we intend to do,” he said.
Kgosi Gobuamang explained that the daughters are legitimate and need to be given their throne without any resistance