Although Kgosi Kgari Sechele did not want to comment on the issue, the Sunday Standard can confirm that the position of deputy kgosi at the main kgotla in Molepolole is still open and was never actually filled.
Information in the public domain is that Norman Bakwena was appointed deputy kgosi in December last year.
In reality though, he has been acting all along and his stint ended in April. Bakwena is back to being senior chief’s representative and the Bakwena have neither an acting nor substantive deputy kgosi.
Bakwena was appointed acting deputy kgosi when Kgari was attending a meeting of Ntlo ya Dikgosi in Gaborone. With no deputy kgosi in place, there was no one senior enough at the kgotla to approve sale of cattle and undertake numerous other tribal administration functions that cannot be done by junior officials.
Residents, among them butchery owners who could not transact sales at the kgotla, lodged a complaint with the Molepolole South constituency office.
The matter was kicked upstairs to the Ministry of Local Government and the result was the appointment of Bakwena as acting deputy kgosi.
What this revelation means is that the status of deputy kgosi is where it was when Keineetse Sebele left the kgotla under a cloud of controversy.
In the short period of time that he has been traditional leader, Kgari has already had three deputies.
The first was Sentibile Sechele who died in post and was replaced by Sebele who was later replaced with Makgasane, following an investigation whose findings were critical of the former.
Makgasane died in a car accident a few months after his appointment. Meanwhile, Sebele has gone to the High Court to contest his removal from the kgotla.
Both Sebele and Makgasane were controversial choices. Some royal house members, including Kgari’s own mother and Kealeboga, were vehemently opposed to Keineetse being appointed deputy kgosi.
Makgasane’s ascendance drew as much ire because some senior members of the royal family, including Keineetse’s younger brother and former deputy kgosi, Kgosimotse, were not consulted.
Kgari’s explanation was that circumstances forced the apparent unilateralism that he applied in choosing Makgasane as Keineetse’s replacement.
Kgari may pull another surprise yet. Lately he is said to be chummy with Kgosimotse, his most senior royal uncle. In royal-watching circles of Molepolole, such closeness has fuelled speculation about the possibility of the Kgosimotse returning to the kgotla to fill his old position.
Another serious contender is Moiteelasilo Sechele whose grandfather, Sebele II, was deposed by the colonial government in 1932 and banished to Ghantsi. Kgari’s own ascendance came after a High Court battle with Kealeboga, Moiteelasilo’s elder brother.
Some believe that Moiteelasilo’s appointment would help heal still festering wounds.
