Kgosi Puso Gaborone promises Batlokwa an heir
It was possibly love at first sight when Kgosi Puso Gaborone first laid his eyes on his now wife Thandie Leshomo at the Tlokweng Roman Catholic Church where they tied the knot under the watchful eye of Bishop Valentine Tsamma Seane this past weekend. Fittingly, the beautiful bride is also of royal blood as her uncle is the chief of Molokaganyane.
The first leg of the celebration was held in Malokaganyane, Borolong, the previous week and in Tlokweng this past Saturday. The flamboyant shebang, which could be counted as the wedding of the year, was attended by the who’s who of Botswana’s social landscape and several dignitaries including Kgosi Kgari Sechele III of Bakwena, Mosadi Seboko of Bamalete, Kgosi Malope II of Bangwaketse, Gooodhope- Mabule Member of Parliament Kgosi Lotlamoreng II, Barolong regent Kgosi Motshegare, President Lieutenant Seretse Khama Ian Khama, Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi, as well as several other cabinet ministers and diplomats.
An evidently jubilant Gaborone, who is also chairman of Ntlo ya Dikgosi, told the hundreds of people who had come to witness him say ‘I do’ that there would be an heir for his tribe. “Fa kgosi e tsholwa morafe wa itumela, ha kgosi e bewa mo stilong morafe wa itumela, ha moja boswa a tsholwa morafe wa itumela,” he said to wild ululations.
Gaborone said that he was grateful to have been raised as a Catholic, which he said had instilled in him positive values that had moulded him to be the person he is today. Gaborone, who has served in the church for 15 years in different capacities from an altar boy to a warden, shared that he had met his wife at their church branch in Tlokweng.
Both the Batlokwa tribal leader and his wife said they are determined to lead their tribe to greater heights. Gaborone acknowledged his deputy Michael Gaborone for having made it possible for him to be installed as Batlokwa Kgosi. Michael Gaborone in turn said he had served Gaborone as his brother`s son and his leader. “I know I have done a lot of good things for him and what is important is that I am doing the right thing for Batlokwa. I am now happy that he will continue the legacy.”
The best lady on the day, Amogelang Keitumele, encouraged her friend, the bride, to make plans to quit her job in order to serve Batlokwa fully. “Ga ayo MmaKgosi yo o rogwang ke di-customara ko tirong,” (There is no chief’s wife who must be screaming with customers) she said, adding that she had also decided to quit her job at one of the local banks when her husband became a pastor. Keitumele is married to BTV show Mokaragana former presenter and comedian, Joel Keitumele popularly known as Ntsoro.
Kgosi Gaborone`s best man, Marakadu David Gaborone however lightheartedly jibed at Keitumele, saying that it was not a good idea for the bride to quit her job under the current economic conditions. “I don’t think that is a good idea because modern life responsibilities cannot be shouldered by the man alone,” he said. David Gaborone, who is the nephew to Puso, also said that the chief had motivated him to also contemplate settling down and getting married.