Crunch meet for Bangwato
Bangwato are supposed to give guidance to their dikgosi today on the route they should take while waiting for President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s response to their meeting request.
Former president Ian Khama’s uncles met with the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Kgotla Autlwetse recently as a path to meeting with Masisi. Khama’s uncles want to understand the issues surrounding the former president from the President himself. This came after the tribe chose a delegation led by Khama’s uncles to meet the President.
Already the tribe’s view is that their Kgosi is being ‘harassed’ by the Directorate on Intelligence and Security (DIS), as the agency kept on searching his properties and implicating him in different offences in his absence.
Bangwato are unhappy that Khama is on self-exile because of State harassment. The tribe expects dikgosi to give them feedback after every meeting they attend with the government regarding Khama’s matter. Khama left the country late last year alleging that he was being harassed by the DIS.
“The tribe will give dikgosi a way forward if the President does not respond to their request. Again, some of the tribesmen want their Kgosi to be helped with finances and given support with his legal fees.
The tribe believes that it is time it supports Khama openly and raise money for legal battles if things come to a push. The other issue the tribe is calling for is for the former president’s siblings to take Khama’s property from State House 4 once given access to it.
Some members of the tribe already have fear that Khama’s life is in danger. These are some of the issues that are going to be discussed,” a source said. Foster Seretse, Khama’s cousin said mainly the Friday meeting is to brief the tribe about the outcome of the meeting with the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.
“We are still waiting for a response from the President on the matter. Other issues will arise from the tribe,” said Seretse. Even though the State has not charged or arrested him, Khama felt that his life is in imminent danger.
Recently, Bangwato demanded answers from Khama’s uncles to brief them on what is happening to their Kgosi and why the DIS keeps on slapping him with search warrants time and again. “Autlwetse held a highly successful consultative meeting with a delegation from Serowe comprising Borangwanaagwe Kgosi Khama on January 27, 2022, to prepare for a meeting between them and President Masisi. This follows a request from Kgosi Khama to have an audience with the President,” stated a press release dated January 27, 2022.