Saturday, November 2, 2024

Tshekedi clashes with Ngamiland tribal leaders again

MAUN ÔÇô A member of the Batawana royal family, Kgosi Charles Letsholathebe has accused the minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Tshekedi Khama of using courtesy call platforms to hit at the local leadership “and disappear”.

Tshekedi was this week in Maun accompanying an entourage of representatives who had attended the week long fifth anniversary and inaugural forum of Ministers conference for the Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa (GDSA).

Since his appointment as Minister responsible for Environment, Tshekedi has turned out to be the most wanted man in Maun. Residents had called for him to be summoned to the village kgotla to explain the apparent takeover of Maun Educational Park by the state and other related issues of concern. On numerous occasions also, Tshekedi had promised but always failed to show up at scheduled meetings both at the kgotla and the North West District Council, so it was when an announcement came that he will show up that the tribal leadership found it to be the most opportune time to confront him

Speaking on the sidelines of this week’s meeting, Kgosi Letsholathebe said that it was typical of Tshekedi to use courtesy call platforms to hit at them and disappear.

“The last time he showed up here was in 2015 when during his “courtesy call” meeting told us of the intended MEP take over only for government to do just that. We have been reduced to being addressed through courtesy calls which we are never accorded chance to question or contribute to issues. We have waited for so long to meet this man and we had hoped this will be the right time. We don’t shun decisions made by government, we just need to be consulted and maybe engaged when such decisions and conclusions are made, more especially those that concern us”, he said.

During the meeting, Tshekedi was saved by Kgosi Kealetile Moremi who pleaded that he be spared, further promising that a meeting will be scheduled in no distant time where he will finally address them.

“Please may I request that we reserve such for another time. Mind you, we have visitors here and so it wouldn’t be proper for us to wash our dirty linen in public. I am equally concerned as we have all been patiently waiting to meet the minister but I believe this is not the fit and proper time. So please let us not spoil what was meant to be a good moment by firing attacks at the minister”, said Kealetile amid murmurings of disapproval by people in attendance.

The GDSA forum was officially opened by President Dr Ian Khama, and it has been resolved that Botswana should continue hosting its secretariat in the interim, for purposes of improving the country’s capacity.

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