Kgamane licks exit wounds
When he headed to Gaborone to hand over his resignation letter, Bammangwato regent, Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane thought he would have at least three months to conclude the matter. He, however, was forced to leave office for good the following day by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. He states that he was embarrassed to find out he was suspended on social media after serving with distinction for 34 years.
Seven months after he was suspended and ultimately resigned, Kgamane opened up about how abruptly he was kicked out of office in April 2022. He states that he was disrupted from handing over office to Seretse Peter Khama who is set to take over as regent as well as other official matters to relevant stakeholders. He was suspended for allegedly allowing politicking at the Kgotla where former president Ian Khama’s issues with government were discussed.
“Following receipt of a letter where I was told to never hold any meetings about Ian Khama or any of his relatives because they were political, I went to him (Khama) on Friday April 22 and told him I could not continue serving as regent anymore and now I want to serve just as his uncle. He gave me his blessings and I went to work the following Monday with intentions to write my resignation letter. The tribal secretary told me they had received a letter from the Minister
on Friday to the effect that he would be holding a meeting on the April 27 with Dikgosana at the Council Chambers in Serowe. He said he did not know the agenda,” said Kgamane.
Kgamane said he then told the secretary that he would be going to Gaborone to hand his resignation letter to the minister because he wanted it to reach him before the end of the week. “I wanted to start my notice in May. On Wednesday, while in Gaborone dropping off the letter the minister was at the Council Chambers announcing that I was being suspended with immediate effect. I was shocked to learn of the suspension through my children who said they saw the news on social media,” he said. Kgamane said he went back to the office the following day on Thursday April 28 to get his suspension letter. He said the District Commissioner (DC) would then bring the letter and he immediately handed the office keys and went to Shoshong.
“The following day, the tribal secretary and DC’s secretary brought a letter from the minister accepting my resignation. He went on to state that my last day at work would be April 30 and that I would not be allowed to serve the three months’ notice period,” he said.
Kgamane said he wanted to use the three months to be able to do proper hand over. He said because he has not properly handed over, he will continue serving as the regent at the instruction of Khama as long as it concerns Bogosi and not government.
“I have not handed over their property because I never had the opportunity. I am now just hoping I will do that with the one who will take over. I hope he will allow me in his office to give an update. I would have loved to hand over to the one Khama picked, but there has been a lot of back and forth with the government on his name. It is also important to know that as regent and uncle, I might be out of office, but I still serve Kgosi.
That is why I have been using the house. Even during Jacqueline Khama’s funeral, I went to stay at the house as Khama sent me to lead Morafe. I also represented Khama recently at Kgosi Malope’s wedding in Kanye. I will continue on this role as long as it has nothing to do with the office until the next regent is properly installed,” he said.