What shall we say? Where shall we even begin? They are the crocodile people; those who broke away from the Bakwena ba ga Mogopa. Their proper name is Bangwaketse. They are the people of Ngwaketse; batho ba ga Ngwaketse. Ngwaketse was the youngest son of a Mokwena kgosi called Malope who lived in the 1600 in southern Africa. This Mokwena kgosi was Malope I. So on Friday October 7th, 2011 in front of the multitudes the memory of this Mokwena kgosi came alive kwa kgosing; kwa Ntsweng. The son of Kgosi Seepapisto IV, who was the son of Bathoen a Gaseitsiwe, (Kwena pheretlha ditshaba; e a re e robetse ba e gwetlhe e re e tsoga ba itshetshele dikeledi) was installed to be Kgosi of the Bangwaketse. His name is Kgosikgolo Malope II a Gaseitsiwe motlogolo wa Basotho.
The installation of kgosi e kgolo follows the death of his father Seepapitso IV early in 2010 after he battled a debilitating infirmity for many years. Malope’s installation has been characterised by much goodwill from the morafe. Many find his seemingly gentle nature attractive. Others on the other hand point to his visionary characteristics which bring very pleasant memories of his grandfather Kgosikgolo Bathoen II a Gaseitsiwe. Here is the young Kgosi who recognises that Kanye lies at the heart of the Trans-Kgalagadi High Way and that because of its strategic position, the village should benefit from the amount of tourism that flows through it. Not only that, he recognises that his grandfather Kgosi Bathoen II had an exceptional plan for the area around the Bathoen Irrigation Dam, also known as Makgodumo dam, to be used as a bird sanctuary. Together with his mophato, Matlotlakgosi, finally this project will see the light of day. Kanye is one place with great potential. It is the only village in the whole of Botswana which has three dams; a gorge; a cave; as well as a breathtaking landscape. It does not lack artistic talent which should aid and sustain the projects envisaged by the morafe and kgosi.
To gain much needed inspiration, Malope would do best to study the achievements of his grandfather, Kgosi Bathoen II a Gaseitsiwe, who ruled the Bangwaketse for 41 years and died in 1990. Bathoen II was not a coward. He fought in World War II with his force led by his brother Kgosi Mookami and Ralekoko. In 1940, he built the Bathoen Irrigation Dam, known as Mmakgodumo dam, which up to this day is still a thing of beauty. Between the period of 1942 and 1943, he established an agricultural project called the Bathoen Irrigation Scheme which was followed by a programme designed to feed school children with the gardens produce in 1943/1944. He is well known for building two halls: the Marapalalo Hall in 1940 and the King George Hall in 1960. The building of the King George Hall was to prove significant since in 1947 it was rented out part to the colonial government to run a Teacher Training College, before it was built in Lobatse around the years of 1953 and 1954. He understood the importance of investing in education; that is why between the years of 1962 and 1963 he built the first Kanye library. Bathoen II will also be remembered for the building of the Tomela Office Chambers between the years of 1963 and 1964.
On the cultural side, it was Bathoen II who declared that all brides-to-be should be built for by their prospective husbands. This was important in that a bride must have her own home separate from that of matsale to combat unnecessary rivalries. Also it was Bathoen who decreed that cemeteries should be moved from backyards and be in a separate dedicated part of the village. He is also remembered for attempting to regulate home beer brewing to reduce the drinking of khadi and lesser known local brews which turned many young talented persons into dikgare tsa dithatholelo.
It is therefore no wonder that Bathoen II’s outstanding contribution to the nation of Bechuanaland and to his morafe was recognised by the colonial government when Kgosi Bathoen II was honoured with prestigious awards: Order of the British Empire (O.B.E) in 1946 and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E) in 1957. Kgosi Bathoen stepped down in 1969 to join politics. He was succeeded by his son, Kgosi Seepapitso IV of Bangwaketse in 1970. It is Bathoen II’s relentless commitment to principle and excellence that should inspire and direct his grandson, Kgosikgolo Malope II a Gaseitsiwe.
He should be encouraged since his installation has galvanised the Bangwaketse in a way that has not been seen amongst them in a long time. You hear it in the city slickers and the village folks. Over and over the mood is we must develop Kanye and create job opportunities in our village. These expressions are motivated by the fact that though Kanye is a large village which lies only 80 kilometres away from Gaborone and some 80 kilometres from the Jwaneng diamond mine, it is largely underdeveloped. It lacks an efficient hospital that serves its residents satisfactorily. Kanye may have an enviable landscape, but it lacks a stadium. It lacks hotels, guest houses and motels. This neglect of the village has made many of its residents to pause and take stock. Now the Bangwaketse are back as Kgosi e kgolo takes the throne. They feel strongly that the destiny of the village must be in the hands of batho ba ga Ngwaketse. To look to government ke go leta lefifi, not so much because the government is unwilling, but that it may be incapable. The spirit of Bathoen is back and the spirits are high.
