HORROR OF THE HUNT
If you look at the report, it was so biased and aimed at trying to silence me. That is why even the Ministry rejected the task force’s recommendations for the DCEC to come and investigate me. It was because they realised that once the DCEC comes in, skeletons will come tumbling out of the closet, especially from the Ministry. DCEC officers are not amateurs - they are expert investigators; they will sniff for proof and a lot of rot will be exposed! As for me, I welcome the DCEC to dig into this matter.
The task force said you are fronting for other companies. Is this the reason you were vocal against the selling of the hunting licence to African Field Sport?
No, I am not fronting for anyone. I have always said to anyone who cares to listen that my wish is to see the agreement and wishes of the community honoured. The community have agreed that adverts should be placed in local media for expression of interest in regards to auctioning the trophy hunting. This was to open it to all other companies that may have interest in this. That way, there will be competition and the licence will go to the highest bidder.
Money obtained from concessioners benefit the community, not individuals. I was against maladministration, against an agreement signed under the table. Auctions are done publicly and the issues of fronting cannot win in this matter!
The board further claimed they had to cover your debts, like the P21,000 Dollar Lodge bill?
The Trust has no business entertaining my personal life. That debt was incurred in my private capacity and through a company which has nothing to do with the Trust. I don’t even know how this matter is of concern to the Trust. I never asked them to pay and they never settled the bill. This is just a witch hunt!
The task force has not dismissed the MOU. Do you have any power to stop the hunting deal?
No, I have none. But this goes to show that the rot is not only in the Trust. There are some senior government officials who were part and parcel of this capture of our Trust. They are using it for their personal benefit!
If you had control of the situation, what would you do?
I’d rectify it and follow the Minister’s recommendation that the hunting quota be auctioned. I would allow for the decision of the community to prevail, not that of the task force, which is biased and against community interest.
Vision 2036 speaks of a Botswana that has zero tolerance for corruption.this same 2036 vision speaks of visible, functional and empowered arms of government because from Vision 2016, we have learnt that for 2036 to be realised, it has to recognise everybody.
All I am saying is that we will do everything in our power to ensure that Mababe does not draw back the rest of Botswana by tolerating corruption.
Interesting!
I am serious. The very reason why Basarwa do not own land in this country is because they are an easy target. They are pushovers, they give up too easily! Some officials know that Basarwa, generally, will give up their land and relocate once they are ordered to do so, so a precedent was set in history. They use divide and rule tactics on us. The same way they did with land, they are doing with the animals. It is simply politics of stomachs; greed. I, personally, will never divide my people because it will not be easy to lead them when they are divided. I need a united community that can sit down together and plan for village developments that will benefit us all.
Moving away from trophy hunting and Trust matters, generally, how are relations between you and the Mababe community? Do they give you due respect?
Generally, people of Mababe afford me the respect and recognise me as their tribal leader. Of course there will always be those impossible elements who want to derail others. When you stand against evil and always support the truth, like me in this case, you get hated most.
Then why are there complaints about you not fully executing your tribal authority duties?
Like I have said before, those are witch hunt stories. It is not true that I am not doing my job. One thing that must be understood is that there is no tribal administration support staff in Mababe. I do not have a Court Clerk or a Court Bailiff. Whenever there are cases, I request the assistance of a Court Clerk from Sankoyo or Khwai. And again, we do not get many cases in Mababe, hence most of the time I have to come to Maun to assist with arbitration matters. Even as we speak, there is no pending case in Mababe, unless one was recorded this morning.
I have been informed that you are quite the ladies’ man. Is it true members of the opposite sex are throwing themselves at you?
Look here, I am not married. The people who told you those rumours must understand that as human beings, we are different. We have different priorities, programmes and interests, even our hopes and expectations differ from one person to another. However, once I commit myself to marriage, it will be evident. I respect the marriage institution. But for now, I am not married. There are many married people who do not respect their marriages; I am not that kind of person.
But have you found a partner who is potentially your future bride?
Yes, I have found the one and I cannot be moved. I am single but not searching. When the time for us to tie the knot arrives, I will make it known to the public. At this very moment, I have not yet decided to go down on my knee, but I am thinking about it.
Do you have children? Has the heir to the throne been born yet?
Yes, I have children. I have eight; five biological and three adopted. Yes, the heir has been born and it is no secret.
And finally, Thank God It’s Friday, what are you up to this weekend?
I like farming and most likely I will be at the farm. It has been a while. The community issues have been keeping me very busy!