'I have no ambitions for Gammangwato throne'

Kgosi Gasebalwe Seretse says rumours of him being among those eyeing the top seat of Gammangwato royalty is far-fetched and only meant to fuel tensions in the royal clan.Rumours have been making rounds in Gammangwato that Seretse is among those who want to replace former President Ian Khama as Kgosi-Kgolo of Gammangwato.Currently Serogola Seretse is Acting Regent following the controversial removal of Sediegeng Kgamane as Regent in the midst of a heated standoff between Bangwato tribe and government on the handling of the differences between Khama and President Mokgwetsi Masisi.Kgamane was removed from office while serving suspension pending a commission of enquiry by then Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development who is now substantive minister, Kgotla Autlwetse.In an interview this week, Seretse told Botswana Guardian that he has come across such allegations recently but dismissed them.According to him, he has never at any point ever thought of occupying the throne, given the hierarchy of Gammangwato chieftancy.He explained that Khama is the undisputed Kgosi of Gammangwato and nobody can challenge that. According to Seretse, there is no one in the house of Seretse who wants to usurp Bogosi from the house of Khama.“Bangwato love Khama, so it is impossible to try to wrestle Bogosi from him. As things stand, me and Kgosikoglo are in good books. We are relatives and have never had a fallout.“I believe people want to fuel tension on unfounded claims. I follow orders of Khama the Kgosikgolo and not Khama the politician maybe that is where people are confusing things. Personally I don’t belong to any political movement,” Seretse explained.Seretse has since last year been viewed among some of the anti-Khama Dikgosi in Gammangwato as they failed to attend most of the meetings that were held in Serowe to discuss the status of Bogosi amidst the standoff between Khama and President Masisi.The Royal uncles have since 2021 held a series of Kgotla meetings at the Serowe Main Kgotla top of the agenda being the standoff between the two men.They had sent a delegation to meet President Masisi to discuss possible reconciliation, however, Masisi delegated the minister of local government to meet the uncles.This annoyed Bangwato and the royals as they demanded to meet the president. It further escalated the tension between them and government which would later result in the tribe and the Royal uncles being banned from using the main kgotla.Seretse argues that he could not attend any of the meetings because he believes they were ill-advised. He said proper channels were supposed to have been explored by the uncles and not the route that they had taken.According to Seretse, issues of Bogosi and leadership are very sensitive and should be dealt with in a calm atmosphere.“I am not going to attend any riots called at Gammangwato kgotla in Serowe. Bangwato need to put their house in order and stop blaming government for the shortcomings.“A house that is divided implodes from within and makes itself vulnerable to its enemies. I have received thinly-veiled threats from some politicians masquerading as royal house members who claim that my support for Khama is not enough,” Seretse revealed.According to Seretse, some of the anger directed at him from some within the royal family is that during his time as a journalist, he had penned down a light piece about Khama at the time of his inauguration.He said the article seems to have not sat well with some of the royal uncles who still believe that the article is a clear indication that he despises Khama.“That is total rubbish because even the article did not say anything negative about Kgosikgolo,” Seretse added.

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'I have no ambitions for Gammangwato throne'