08 Feb 2023

Batlokwa tribesmen and Bomme ba ga Mohumagadi yesterday gathered at Batlokwa main Kgotla to honour the historical arrival of President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset and spouse Muriel Zeender-Berset.

Kgosi Puso's wife Thandiwe Gaborone was the first to extend a hand to the Swiss delegation upon arrival at the main Kgotla before President Berset was ushered to a bonfire at the main leobo prepared by Kgosi Puso in his honour.

There was anxiety on morafe at the prospect of heavy showers owing to a thick layer of clouds that hung over their village. 

However, Kgosi Puso assured his subjects that in African tradition when it rained it meant the gods were happy and the floodgates of blessings were wide open.

Addressing morafe, President Berset said he was humbled by the dignity and grit of Batlokwa. 

He said it was an honour for him to be amongst them and was particularly impressed by the structure of governance of the traditional leadership as explained by their Kgosi.

He said there was a striking similarity between the Swiss and Botswana systems.

President Berset was taken on a guided tour around the kgotla to observe the leobo, lelwapana and lesaka. 

He was also shown the statue of Batlokwa’s founding leader Kgosi Gaborone who led the  tribe from 1880 to 1931.

For his part Kgosi Puso told the Swiss delegation that dikgosi played a critical role in building and uniting communities, promoting and preserving culture as well as community mobilisation and dispensation of justice.

“Kgosi was guided by strong cultural values and principles. This is the role that the kgosi still plays in modern-day Botswana. 

The Kgotla is seen as a traditional meeting place where the community gathers to make decisions in Tswana traditions based on consultation,” he said.

Kgosi Puso said the kgotla was a central element in the traditional machinery of Tswana governance and that kgosi used kgotla to conduct public affairs. Ends