Bobirwa welcomes commission of inquiry into cattle rustling

The tribe lost livestock estimated to cost billions over four decades Hopeful the commission will bring everlasting solution

Bobirwa leadership and tribe this week hailed President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi for living up to his promise and moving swiftly by appointing a commission of inquiry into cross- border livestock rustling in their area.

The commissioners chaired by Gabriel Seeletso have been given one month to hand their report to the President. The commission is expected to among other things: establish the problem of livestock rustling in the Bobirwa villages along the Botswana/ Zimbabwe border, and determine the extent of the problem.

It will establish how long the problem of livestock rustling in the area has been in existence and what causes or caused it, and who are the key players.

Seeletso and his team will also seek input from the community as to what the socio- economic, political and security risks that may result from the livestock rustling are; its consequences on the livelihoods of people in the area; and the measures that can be put in place to mitigate these risks.

The Commission is composed of seasoned retired career civil servants. Seeletso served for a long time from his youth as a District Commissioner and his last appointment was Secretary of the Independent Electoral Commission ( IEC). Its members are former Senior Private Secretary to President Masisi and now Secretary of Rural Development Council ( RDC) in the Ministry of Local Government Rural Development ( MLGRD), Berzack Maphakwane, two Botswana Defence Force ( BDF) soldiers in Lieutenant Colonel Maatla Motonto based at Joint Force headquarters and holding the position of Staff Officer Operations and Colonel Rebaone Selei based at BDF headquarters holding the position of Staff Officer Strategic commitment.

From Botswana Police there is Assistant Commissioner and Criminal Investigations Department North Central Musa Oteng. Other members are Charles Masole, Lekgotla Phiri, and John Kgosiemang.

The Secretariat of the Commission of Inquiry is composed of Assistant Commissioner of Botswana Police, who is currently stationed at Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security as Police advisor officer, Witness Keotshepile Bosija as head, and its other members are Delic Sehunwe and Tabitha Latelang. Acting President, Slumber Tsogwane on Monday delivered the good news confirming government’s decision to appoint the Commission as per his boss’ promise a month ago. Kgosi Ezekiel Joel Masilo was pleased that President Masisi did not only appoint strangers but included Babirwa’s son, Gabana Mooketsi who has firsthand experience of the problem at hand.

The likes of Assistant Commissioner and Criminal Investigating Department North Central Musa T. Oteng who has been on the ground working closely with Babirwa for a long time in curbing and investigating stock theft as well as doing patrols with the clusters.

Masilo said the fact that Masisi came “here and listened to our grievances, promising to act accordingly, and acted within a short period gives us a lot of hope that finally an everlasting solution will be found.”

Masilo confirmed having seen the Terms of Reference and argues that “they are crystal clear and if followed will bring about an everlasting solution, peace and tranquillity in the area as well as enable the tribe to freely do what they like best- livestock rearing”.

For his part Member of Parliament for Bobirwa, Taolo Lucas who has been very vocal on the issue welcomed the appointment of the commission of enquiry into this decade- old conflict that has impoverished Bobirwa.

“I must say the problem has been neglected for far too long to the detriment of Bobirwa,” he said.

“The composition of the Commissioners is noted and one hopes that they have the requisite capacity to deal with the security, socio- economic and diplomatic ramifications of the matter,” added Lucas. The MP however noted that the terms of reference on the other hand are ambiguous in so far as they relate to possible compensation for the loss of livelihood that Bobirwa have suffered over the last four decades. “We hope and believe that the Commission will canvass views from a wide spectrum of sources. We hope and believe that the recommendations of the commission shall represent the people of the area and not sectional interest. We look forward to giving the Commission our views as people of Bobirwa,” Lucas said.

Members of the Commission were sworn in on Tuesday, 28th September, 2021 by Tsogwane in his capacity as Acting President.