Autlwetse holds political grudge – Khama
Bagammangwato leader, Ian Khama says the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development’s minister, Kgotla Autlwetse, failed to perform his duty according to Section 7(2) by appointing his preference Seretse Peter Khama as Motshwarelela Bogosi of the Bagammangwato Tribe is irrational, improper, deliberate and mala fide.
Equally, he says the move is politically motivated.
Khama has, therefore, dragged Autlwetse before court demanding the installation of his chosen regent, Seretse Peter Khama. He wants his uncle, Serogola Seretse, removed from the position he assumed in 2022 following the expulsion of Sediegeng Kgamane.
The former president, through his attorney Tapiwa Abel, has filed a case before 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 (Cap 41:01) granted in the following terms.
He also 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. He also wants the court to command the minister to publish the said appointing notice in the Gazette within 30 days of delivery of the court order.
Khama states in his founding affidavit in a case in which he wants the court to compel the minister to appoint his preferred regent that Seretse Peter Khama is his choice.
According to Khama, numerous requests have been made to the minister to appoint Seretse Peter, but Autlwetse has not acted. He states that three written requests have been delivered to the minister, but no action followed.
Furthermore, Khama says the minister has not corresponded nor has he given reasons for his refusal, neglect, and failure to appoint.
“For the past two years, the First Respondent [the minister] has treated my request to appoint with silence, which silence should be taken as an outright refusal, and has not pointed me to reasons for his refusal.
The minister terminated the appointment of Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane in April 2022 and left the Motshwarelela Bogosi seat vacant,” he states.
“Instead of immediately filling the vacancy, he neglected to do so. Almost two years have passed since then and there is still a vacuum in the rightful leadership of Bagammangwato. Seemingly, the minister is happy with the existence and continuance of this vacuum.”
He submits that a minister entrusted with such section 7(2) duty, and acting in good faith, would have moved swiftly and cooperated with him as the recognised Kgosi to ensure the timely appointment of the designated Motshwarelela Bogosi and swift filling of the void.
“The minister has failed to apply his mind to what is before him in accordance with the command of section 7(2) of the Act. His neglect of, and failure to perform, his statutory duty is clearly in furtherance of an ulterior or improper motive,” he states.
He further states that the refusal to appoint is guided by political motives instead of being informed by the Act.
“It is common knowledge that there is currently an impasse between me and the current President of Botswana, who appointed the minister. In taking the side of his appointor and ostensibly seeking to appease him, the minister has allowed irrelevant political factors to cloud his judgement and he has neglected the relevant factors to be considered in the performance of his Section 7(2) duty. “The relevant factors are clearly stated in the Act which stipulates that the minister shall appoint the designated Motshwarelela Bogosi,” Khama submits.
Khama also states that Autlwetse has been holding a grudge against him since he lost the elections in 2019.
“In the 2019 General Election, the First Respondent [Minister Autlwetse] lost the Serowe North Constituency under the Botswana Democratic Party. He lost the seat to the Botswana Patriotic Front after I successfully decampaigned him in the political arena,” Khama says.
“He was then specially elected as a Member of Parliament and later appointed the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development in January 2022. Since his loss, he has been holding a political grudge.
It is because of this political grudge, amongst others, and not due to any relevant factors under the Act, that he is to date, after numerous requests and lapse of a significant period since the termination of Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane’s appointment, that he is refusing, without any reasons, to appoint Seretse Peter Khama,” Khama states.