This week the focus is on the five main wards of Mochudi, some of which appear to be fighting for seniority between them. The five wards are Kgosing, Morema, Mabudisa, Tshukudu and Manamakgote. However the struggle is between Morema and Mabudisa. When the present generation of Bakgatla grew up, they were told that Morema were the second after Kgosing in terms of seniority. This arrangement served the tribe well. It had all been smooth running. To the dismay of many in the village, things began to take a new shape shortly after the death of Kgosi Linchwe II in 2007.The roll-call at kgotla meetings began to change with Mabudisa being called ahead of Morema at the insistence of Kgosi Segale and Montshiwa Mabudisa. Montshiwa had been acting as his ward’s headman until he took up a senior position at the main kgotla.
I was one of the people who enquired why such a new development. I was not taken serious perhaps because I happen to be of the Morema stock and a nephew of the Kgosing. The answer was that from time in memorial, Mabudisa were senior to Morema. The one or two people that I asked did not produce documentary evidence to support their version. They claimed that the changes were brought about by Kgosi Isang because he did not like Mabudisa people. Isang ruled Bakgatla as regent from 1924 to 1929 when he handed over to Molefi Pilane. After he had handed the reign over to Molefi, it was time for the Mabudisa people to approach Molefi with a request for them to be reinstated to where they believed was their rightful position. They did not do that. Then Mmusi Pilane came in as regent in the absence of Molefi. Still they did nothing about their worry. In 1963, Kgosi Linchwe II was installed and still these Mabudisa people sat on their “rights”. The only protest that the Mabudisda registered was when it appeared Montshiwa was trying to prolong his stay as the acting Kgosi of their ward even when his elder brother, Mabudisa Mabudisa had retired from government and was ready to ascend to the throne.
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