Fourty years ago, using my FM2 steel Nikon camera, I shot this iconic photograph of Ray Molomo carrying the young Kgafela Kgafela high over his head. It was in the winter of 1982 when a new male regiment which had completed the course had just arrived at the Mochudi kgotla where thousands of enthusiastic crowd of hand-waving and ululating people most of who had been awaiting the graduates to show-up since shortly after dawn. The new regiment was named Mangana after the 1856 group which was led by a man called Tshomankana. At the age of 12 or so, Kgafela was the leader of the new Mangana. Not only that, he was also the heir apparent. He was the man of the moment. People wanted to get a glimpse of him while others even wanted to shake hands with him. It was a memorable day. Realizing that many people were struggling to see their future kgosi, Ray Molomo did the best he could under the circumstances. He carried the boy high for the benefit of the crowd. The photo also shows a man called Difatlho “Speaker” Seame trying to help Ray Molomo carry Kgafela further high but he could grab the legs only. Others in the crowd may have thought that physical contact with the heir apparent would bring them good luck. That is those who believed in superstitions.
During those days at the kgotla, the relationship between Ray Molomo and the royal house was unshakable. Legends say it had existed from the year that Kgosi Linchwe II was crowned the head of the tribe. Following Kgosi Linchwe’s demise in 2007, Mohumagadi MmaSeingwaeng selected one of her late husband’s beautiful overcoats and gave it to Ray Molomo. That was superb. The other day I visited Ray Molomo at his home. He used that opportunity and invited me to his wardrobe in his bedroom to show me the present from the Mohumagadi. He was extremely overjoyed because for him it was a remembrance. Indeed it was. For MmaSeingwaeng, it showed that she was truly a remarkable woman Unfortunately that relationship between Molomo and the royal house could only last for as long as Linchwe II was still alive. Four years into Kgosi Kgafela’s rein, it crumbled .
Before then, Ray Molomo had supported Kgosi Kgafela so much that it was unthinkable to suggest that one day they would not be in talking terms. Ray Molomo participated in all preparatory meetings for the coronation and spoke at the installation on behalf of royal uncles. Not only that, during the Madibelankwe initiation ceremony, Ray Molomo was on Kgafela II’s side most of the time giving him guidance. The problem between the two started during the infamous public flogging and the Constitutional challenge cases at the magistrate and the High Court level.
I am in possession of two letters, one from Molomo and the other one from Kgafela II which bore testimony that there had been heated exchanges between the two men. These letters are matters of public consumption. They are not marked confidential or secret. They can be found at the National Archives and Record Services in Gaborone. Interestingly, the two letters bear same date, February 10th. This means Kgafela did not waste time upon receiving Molomo’s letter and hearing that his style of leadership was on trial. From the tone of both men’s letters, it all started with Kgafela writing to Molomo asking him to write an affidavit about what Dr Attalia Molokome had told Molomo concerning Kgafela’s disappearance from the magistrate’s court in 2011. That year, Kgafela and co-accused except Sekai Linchwe fled the scene at the magistrate court and the hunt for their capture lasted a few days. In this article, I will deal with matters raised by Ray Molomo in his letter to Kgafela II. In the next article, I will deal with the response by Kgafela II. Clouding them in one article when the issues from both are so crucial may not provide a balanced view. One would most likely compromise the other. Therefore the starting point is on Ray Molomo because he was on the offensive while Kgafela II was on the defensive. We may not know what was on Molomo’s essence when he decided to confront his Kgosikgolo with such very strong words without fear or favour. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, we learn that “cowards die many times before their deaths”. Ray Molomo would not be counted among cowards, although there are many in his village. Throughout his public life, Ray Molomo was known to be a vibrant and a principled fellow. He respected but feared nobody. He was a straight talker. He was very brave but not foolish.
During his days as a cabinet minister, very reliable sources close to the cabinet told me that when things were getting tough and a solution urgently needed, President Festus Mogae usually looked upon Ponatshego Kedikilwe, Ray Molomo, General Mompati Merafhe, Pelonomi Venson and Phandu Skelemani to come up with a suitable solution. More often than not, Molomo would do.
In his letter to Kgafela II, Molomo minced no words. He started by acknowledging that he and Kgafela had previously discussed at length, the constitutionality of the Supreme Law and that he supported some aspects of Kgafela II’s submissions but not the manner in which the kgosi decided to treat the matter. “I do not support the onslaught on the entire Constitution of the Republic of Botswana”, said Molomo further stressing, “the need to review those paragraphs in the Constitution that have whittled down the rights and powers of the Dikgosi”. Molomo was uncompromising. He hit hard. Others would say he left no stone unturned as he told his Kgosi, “you have an assignment by virtue of your birth to protect your father’s tribe and to lead them to prosperity and not to engage them in didactic battle on issues of constitutionality which they are unable to comprehend and appreciate”. “Unfortunately”, said Molomo, “whether you mislead us or not we have to follow you”.
There is no doubt in the letter that Molomo had decided on that day that he had to tell Kgafela what was in his mind (Molomo’s). He probably had said to himself that enough was enough and it was time to burst. Molomo reminded Kgafela that he was charged with the responsibility to fight for a specific benefit of the Bakgatla. He said for Kgafela to be fighting a national battle that had been defined by himself alone could end up with him being a martyr for Batswana at large at the expense of the Bakgatla. “That is not what we desire”, said Molomo. He found it difficult to encourage Kgafela “in this wild goose chase which I deem will not benefit Bakgatla directly”. He expressed the fear that if he did so, “our common ancestor, Kgosi Kgamanyane, will turn in his grave”. He said people had departed this world and he had been left behind for a purpose. Certainly, he said, the purpose could not be to support Kgafela “in a defiant course”. He believed his life was spared so that he could be present at Kgafela’s installation and perform the function of your uncle as many of them who could have performed that function had died. He said he believed that even Kgafela’s father, the late Kgosi Linchwe was “ happy to see me do it”. Molomo said it had pained him extremely that people were looking to him to guide and advise Kgafela but he was unable to do so because of “our diametrically opposed outlooks”. The letter makes it very clear that Molomo was a man who wondered whether Bakgatla had a kgosi ‘who is concerned about our welfare, day and night or we have a kgosikgolo who is preoccupied with court cases or legal problems and may not have time to plan our welfare”.
“I am worried. Many are worried but are silent. I have dropped you a note or two concerning some problems that worry your people. I doubt if you have the time to attend to those issues, beleaguered as you are” said Molomo. Towards the end, the letter deals again with the issue of Dr. Molokomme which seems to have been the one which triggered the whole thing. Molomo starts by recalling that in his last discussion with Kgafela he gave the impression that he would not find any difficulty in providing the affidavit that the Kgosi had requested. On the hindsight, said Molomo, “I have discovered that what Dr. Molokomme said to me over the telephone was out of genuine concern for your welfare and I cannot testify against her, you might have calculated that such evidence could give you some mileage but in my considered view I regard it as tantamount to clutching at straws in order to avoid to sink”. Molomo made it clear that he did not appreciate the significance of such evidence in a strong case whose “fairness and or veracity is very elusive”. The letter concludes with the words, “Kgosi ya me, I therefore, regret that I find it unethical to provide such an affidavit against the Attorney- General. Please, note that this is not to divest myself of the responsibility to respond to your call or assignment on matters that are for the real welfare of your tribe. That is my duty and in that I will give you my unflinching support as long as a live”.
