The Task Force that was set up by Government to look into controversy surrounding the Bobirwa Chieftainship has recommended Adam Masilo as the rightful chief of Bobirwa.
The Task Force has also found that the current Kgosi of Babirwa, Mmirwa Malema, only came onto the scene through an election that was held in 1972.
This has put paid Malema’s attempts to pass the baton to one of his children when he retires in 2015.
The Task Force, led by former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ray Molomo, was, among other things, instructed by Ministry of Local Government to determine the lineage of Babirwa and also to determine if that bogosi was hereditary or not.
Another of the terms of reference had asked the Task Force to determine who the rightful “Moemela Kgosi yo Mogolwane is” in Bobirwa.
“We discovered that the bogosi shows a royal genealogy dating as far back as 15th Century,” reads part of the Report by the Task Force.
Government has since said the report of the Task Force will not be made public. The announcement by Minister of Local Government has rubbed Babirwa the wrong way.
They contend the report be made public to help them resolve their clear difference over who their Kgosi should be.
The reports also said all evidence given by a varied number of people from across the many villages and settlements in the Bobirwa area, including Bobonong, Tsetsebjwe, Molaladau, Gobojango and Semolale showed that the Bobirwa chieftainship has always been hereditary.
The Task Force was able to determine that among the three claimants [Malema, Masilo and Serumola] the descendant of Sekoba was the most senior.
Sekoba is a past Bobirwa Kgosi who ruled before the current confusion ensued.
And, as it turns out, Masilo is the direct descendant of Sekoba, found the Report.
Also the Task Force was instructed by government to determine how Kgosi Mmirwa Malema, who currently sits as the Senior Tribal Representative had ascended to the throne to start with.
The Task Force found that Malema was voted as part of an election that was held in 1972.
“The last Mongwato, Oampona Ngwato, resigned in 1972 and there was an election between Mmirwa Malema, Batshedi Kgathi and Gaonyatse Randome. Malema won the election,” reads the report.
The report says clearly, Malema ascended to the throne, not as a birth right but through an election.
Bobirwa chieftainship became a source of pain after Mmirwa Malema indicated that he wanted to retire and would like to give the throne to one of his children.
But there were those of Babirwa who felt that not being his birth right, Malema could not pass the throne to any of his children.
Malema’s contract and retirement are due in 2015.
Among other things, the Task Force found that all the three claimants to the throne are indeed related, but that Masilo was incontestably the most senior.
Given their clear discomfort in making public the findings of the Molomo Task Force, it is not clear what steps Government will take when Malema’s contract comes to an end in 2015.
