The Legendary Dr Hage Geingob: A tribute
Feb 07, 2024 The Namibian president death last week put him to a list of over twenty African president and leaders who died while in office. Some countries have experienced the agony of losing their beloved leaders more than once, countries like Nigeria, Burundi, Zambia had to deal with the ordeal on more than one occasion. In the SADC region, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Swaziland and now Namibia have at one point had to bury their presidents. Like a legendary Zimbabwean singer John Chibadura and Sungura boys says death has ‘no membership’, not respecter of status, “Kufa ha kuna memba”,This article seeks to understand Dr Hage Geingob posture towards Botswana.
I have been meaning to pay a small tribute to former Namibian leader Dr Hage Geingob whose passing robbed the region and Africa at large of a grey hair symbolizing wisdom, maturity and stable hands. As a journalist in Botswana I can only understand Dr Geingob from his position towards Botswana. His death at the beginning of the week marks almost six years since him together with our former president Lieutenant General (rtd)Seretse Khama Ian Khama signed the boundary treaty on the 5th of February 2018 in Windhoek. The treaty was facilitated by the African Union Commission and other development partners. Following the signing president Hage Geingob then said the agreement means that boundaries must not be a hindrance to free movement. He said the treaty is very important because Botswana and Namibians will be free and will subsequently lead to abolition of Visa.
Post Khama administration, president Masisi pushed the idea of passport free travel culminating in the use of identity cards, launched just not a long time ago. Namibia and Botswana signed a memorandum of agreement to allow for the use of National identity cards as travel documents between the two countries. It’s easy to understand president Geingob’s commitment to regional integration and a united Africa.Dr Geingob lived in Botswana briefly in Francistown, lived in the Congo, Nigeria and was later to be based in Zambia. His understanding of an Africa that does not create barriers for fellow Africans was probably from experience. He was aware of the potential of an Africa that does not create barriers even though he may have gone through barriers himself during the liberation struggle, he was ready to ensure he removes all the bottlenecks that hinders both trade and people to people interactions.
Dr Geingob is not the only Namibian leader who lived in other African countries, his predecessor Hifekepunye Pohamba once lived here in Botswana as they were running away from oppression. However it took the wisdom and pan African persuasion of Dr Geigob to push for the relaxation of free movement between the two countries through our two president. This was the first development in the SADC region. When history of more regional integration and Visa free movement gains momentum in the region, Dr Hage Geingob’s role as the pioneer or the one who rolled the ball must not be forgotten.
In 2020, Dr Hage Geingob displayed the highest level of maturity when his country was in an election euphoria for the local and regional elections. News broke that Botswana Defence force killed four Namibian fisherman, the Nchindo brothers and their cousin Sinvula.The killings caused an international tension between Botswana and Namibia. Coincidentally the shooting occurred at Sedudu.The Sedudu Island was in the past a subject of territorial dispute between the two sister countries. The Namibians were up in arms and believed, which is not necessarily true, that Botswana had a shoot to kill policy which meant the Botswana army was trigger happy and just killed their fellow citizens without due diligence. There were of course back and forth diplomatic engagements to cool down emotions on the Namibian side. I am convinced that it was Dr Geingob’s handling of the matter that allowed for cool heads and sanity over the issue. One can see the warmth and usual brotherhood greetings during the photo opportunity between Dr Geingob and President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi as they met at the height of the tension. Dr Geigob looked like a man on a mission to contain the tension and reach an amicable solution. He had a choice of throwing tantrums and act to cameras so that his Namibian constituent can get a sense that he is also angry. It was an election season so he might as well have used the incident to recreate himself as this tough president and may be promised to declare war on Botswana.
Recently in DRC Felix Tshisekedi fell into the temptation and promised his constituents that once reelected, he will be declaring war on Rwanda and the people chanted in agreement. We all know that he was reelected but has not yet declared war.Dr Geingob was therefore wise enough not to flatter the public by belligerent speeches. He restrained himself and chose maturity over expediency.Dr Geingob managed to restrain the galloping Namibian public who were calling for war and blood.
The above are the two points which I believe were key foreign policy positions that Botswana benefited from Dr Geingob’s wisdom and commitment to the pan African agenda. This is my interpretation of his policies to Botswana. He saw Batswana as brothers and friends and all his policies towards Botswana were informed by the need to foster cohesion and promote good neighborliness.
Any article that is written and omit his struggle credentials will not be enough.Dr Geingob, one of the few presidents who have read for a PhD has been a loyal public servant to Namibia and Africa. He represented his political movement SWAPO at the United Nations while studying in the USA.He was later to head UN training institute set up to train the Namibian civil service in preparation for post independent Namibia.Dr Geingob also directed the first Namibian democratic elections and later served as a Prime minister in the new Sam Nujoma administration. So in Dr Hage Geingob, Namibia has lost its political encyclopedia and institutional memory while Africa have lost its loyal and wise son.Dr Geingob in 2022, while sending former South African president Thabo Mbeki birthday message, promised that when he retires he will join hands with Mr Mbeki to revive the African renaissance movement. So like the French say, in Africa when the old die, it’s an equivalence of a whole museum burning down. In Dr Geingob our museum is up in smoke.
Tshekedi Khama: The Leading Man of Pre independent Botswana.
Dec 13, 2023 Tshekedi Khama: The Leading Man of Pre independent Botswana.
It’s 63 years, almost 64 years since the demise of the great son of Botswana Tshekedi Khama.He died on June 10th in London because of kidney failure.He was born in 1905 to Khama III and died at the age of 53.He is actually one of the Botswana leaders rushed overseas for medical attention.
He is known for many things,ordering the flogging of a white boy Macintosh,opposing Seretse Khama’s marriage to a white lady, he established Pilikwe village and most importantly him and Bathoen II were key figures in pre independent Botswana.The two cousins laid the foundation for the New Democratic Botswana.They fought for the survival of Bogosi.
His legacy include Bafokeng royal Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi who is the son to Tshekedi Khama’s daughter queen mother Semane Molotlegi.The other grandson is Peter Seretse who is at the center of the current Bangwato regent succession issues.He has been documented a lot.
Kebaetse Kebaetse:The last of the Ngwaketse King Guardians..!
Dec 13, 2023 Kebaetse Kebaetse:The last of the Ngwaketse King Guardians..!
Over the weekend Kgosi Malope and Queen Mmasetsibi Gaseitsiwe lead mourners to send off one of the loyal Bangwaketse sons Kebaetse Kebaetse.Kebaetse was an anchor of Kgosi Seepapitso the fourth of Bangwaketse, he was loyal to the monarch until his death and later took over to chaperon the current Royal Malope II.
“After the death of my father, he never abandoned me upon realizing that I was still new and trying to find my way, you know we were close, wherever I went he was always by my side, he mentored and guided me so well and without him I will be less wiser” Kgosi Malope at Kebaetse’s funeral.
Kgosi Malope came to give tribute to man who has given his life and most importantly his entire adult life to the service of the Bangwaketse monarchs. I only learned late that Kebaetse was employed by the Tribal administration. For me he was that loyal royal guardian, who carried either the chair or the umbrella for Kgosi Seepapitso IV.Kebaetse gave honour and respect to the throne, his presence was like the Biblical presence of grey hair symbolizing wisdom and stability around the Bangwaketse throne.His experience as a former police officer came handy for his security role around Kgosi Seepapitso.
Kebaetse earned Seepapitso’s trust that the Kgosi entrusted his son, heir to the throne Kgosi Malope II,to him.According to Malope some headman used to wonder why Kebaetse was around Malope and not giving way to a younger generation.Kebabetse is said to have insisted that Kgosi Malope was his project assigned to him by Kgosi Seepapitso.He was considered a strong disciplinarian and Kgosi Malope says he did not want people getting too close to him.
Personally I grew up hearing tales of his police career as a no nonsense police officer in the then Botswana local police. Rale Sebeelo, the blind man who raised us, a great story teller in his own right painted a picture of a strict police officer. “E ne e re fa a pega mosimane moretlwa o utlwe madi a tswa a re e re shwaa..!During his policing days in Mmathethe, we are told Kebaetse was the most feared police officer, if one happened to have defied the law Kebaetse was the last officer you wanted to pay your dues under.
To my maternal family Kebaetse was an uncle who never missed our maternal family gatherings, the last time he came to Gakgolo was when we had a Festive family come together at my grandfather’s home.My grandfather’s mothers name was Motho or Mma- Kenamile who was aunt to Kebaetse and married in Sebako ward to Sebeelo.Sebeelo and Motho gave birth to Kenamile my maternal grandfather.Kenamile’s mother Motho had six siblings, four sisters and a brother by the name Kilatshe.Kilatshe is said to have died at a young age meaning Kebaetse’s father now assumed the position of uncle to my grandfather Kenamile.My mother therefore consider the Kebaetse’s her great maternal uncles.The other sisters to Motho are Katankana known as Mma Mojiemang who married Thebe, the mother to the medicine man Motshwana Thebe who spoke on Saturday at Kebaetse’s funeral and was also close ally of Kgosi Seepapitso IV because the three Seepapitso, Motshwana and Kebaetse belong to the Malau age set, a Ngwaketse regiment of people born between 1932 and 1936.The other sisters to Motho are Ditshegana –MmaKemoneeng who married Kgosintwa of Kgano ward, MmaMomphi was their eldest sister and she was married at Tsima ward still in Kanye.
Kebaetse was so loyal to the Bangwaketse throne that he left the Bangwaketse kgotla straight to the grave.He will remain an embodiment of service and commitment to securing bogosi.It is the stories of people like Kebaetse that will remain guiding compass for posterity. He was born in 1932 in Kanye Fare the well Old man.Family History credit:My mother 📸 credit:self and Koone Boikaego
Mogobe Nuggets of Wisdom Podacast Gives Birth to a Book...
Dec 05, 2023 One of the renowned attorneys and motivational speaker Mompoloki Lerumo Mogobe will launch his much anticipated book the MOMP NUGGETS OF GRIT on 6/12/2023.The attorney who joined the wave of the podcast movement by establishing one of the most popular podcast Mogobe Nuggets of wisdom.The podcast is very popular and has exposed many of the enterprising Batswana and non Batswana that were rarely heard and seen on the mainstream media.The serial entrepreneur is also an active citizens who offers his time to young people.He is the patron of Junior Chamber International Botswana.The book's author is Saidi Mdala a renowned executive coach and professional speaker.
Tshekedi and Flogging of the white Boy: Clash of Judicial Systems.
Dec 05, 2023 Eighty nine years ago, Bechunaland or let’s say pre independent Botswana grappled with racial prejudice,the dikgosi were not expected or at least perceived as competent enough to try white people.The colonial administrators believed African justice system was wanting and cannot fairly adjudicate a case involving white settlers.So generally white males did as they pleased with Bangwato or African girls.Those interested in gender based violence and defilement must take their time and camp in that colonial era and are bound to get some interesting discoveries.
In 1933 a young man by the name Phineas MacIntosh like many of his white peers at the time, were known to be seducing and impregnating girls.Tshekedi Khama did not take kindly to their misdeeds, registering his displeasure with the colonial administration who dismissed the issue or just never thought it was an issue.One day Pheneas is said to have injured a Mongwato guy over a quarrel for a girl.Fed up, Tshekedi tried the white boy and was sentenced to corporal punishment.
The flogging of a white young man was an insult to the colonial authorities.The resident commissioner Charles Rey saw an opportunity to deal with Tshekedi.Tshekedi was actually a thorn on Rey’s flesh, opposing the British plan of incorporating Bechunaland into the Union as well as his stance on the self determination by Batswana kingdoms or preservation of Bogosi powers and influence.In vernacular,”Rey o ne a beile Tshekedi bambara”. Rey immediately deployed the army to remove Tshekedi from Bogosi banishing him to Francistown.
Tshekedi received overwhelming support from the white community and even MacIntosh himself thought the sentence was harsh.Using his allies abroad and the massive support among Bangwato Tshekedi managed to force Rey to rescind the banishment.Rey was left with an egg on the face when Tshekedi returned to Bogosi and even the British government thought Rey was heavy handed in banishing the royal.
The case of the flogging of MacIntosh was a clash of judicial systems.The colonial imposing system and the Tswana traditional justice system at the center Tshekedi who was willing to test what will happen if he challenged it.It was also a matter of gender based violence and just lawlessness that went unchecked.Today 1959 it was the third day of mourning Tshekedi Khama.
I Just Love Visiting New Places
Sep 09, 2023 There was a time when Botswana was called Bechuanaland. This was before she gained independence from Britain in 1966. It was a time when Batswana lived a simple, agrarian life, when culture and tradition dominated. Even after gaining independence Batswana still subsisted, and commerce was basic, dominated by bartering with agricultural products.
The first Miss Botswana
Jul 22, 2023 The first Miss Botswana was crowned in 1967 and was won by Theresa Rantao. The Other notable Miss Bechuanaland before independence are Serwalo Gaseitsiwe in 1962, Veronica Magosi in 1964 and Lydia Tiyo in 1965. Since then to date there have been other beautiful women promoting the ideal womanhood of the natio
