Africa-Press – Botswana. A tribal leader who presided over Babirwa from 1972 to 2016 when he finally retired, a colossal Kgosi Mmirwa Malema, has been painted with indelible colours epitomizing humanity, humility and peace among a deluge of hyperboles before his burial, Saturday.
A community builder unmatched. A peace broker of note. A foster parent appreciated. His death, although inevitable for a man in the evening hours of his life, has heart-wrenched and left gaping wounds in the hearts and minds of believers in his sheer unparalleled abilities.
April Fool’s Day and a colossus rests. The news threw some confusion in the community. At the end of it all it was never an April Fool’s prank – Kgosi Mmirwa Malema has transitioned and joined a line of his forbearers.
Long before his son, Kgosi Letso Malema could comprehend life as he has come to, Kgosi Mmirwa housed public officers in multiple mud huts in his compound, at least according to the former. At the time there were no government pool houses or private houses for rent. Not only did he house the officers in question, he became their foster parent.
Actually, Kgosi Mmirwa reportedly cared for and about everyone and in the process presuming everyone innocent until proven otherwise.
Described as a reserved man who preferred to stay somewhat aloof yet observant and attentive to details, the larger than life, Kgosi Mmirwa would not interject when someone talked to him to a point one would wonder if he had his attention in the first place.
A 94-year old, born August 2, 1930, father of 13 children, eight with first wife Ms. Selebogo Malema nee Makgosa, who mothered kgosi Letso and three with the current wife Rebecca Malema. The first wife died in 1988 and Kgosi Mmirwa married his current wife in 2016.
The son of Kgosi Selamolela, Kgosi Mmirwa presided over his village of Molalatau for only a year before he was asked to take over the chieftaincy of Babirwa in 1972 and consequently relocated to Bobonong.
In the entourage charged with wooing him to ascend to the highest seat of Bobirwa tribal leadership was one Mr. Walter Mosweu who first courted royal uncle Simon Radikhudu Malema. The latter signaled a green light for kgosi Mmirwa to take up the throne.
At the time, Kgosi Pharitlhi acted a regent until in 2012 when kgosi Letso was finally installed to his birth right.
Tuesday, BOPA crew paid a visit to Kgosi Mmirwa’s house whereupon were greeted by an assembled group of men clad with reverence for a man whom they deemed an architect of Molalatau in particular and Bobirwa, especially Bobonong where he resided, in general.
A retired Kgosi Boitumelo Garegae whom kgosi Mmirwa installed as a Moletemane leader, was full of respect, praise and admiration for a man he thought larger than Bobirwa.
“I, sometimes, tell some Babirwa that they don’t respect Kgosi Malema enough because they’ll never have a kgosi like him,” said Kgosi Garegae in full conviction.
Born in Serowe and a Mongwato himself, Kgosi Garegae lauded Kgosi Mmirwa for wrestling off Bobirwa chieftaincy from Bagammangwato under Kgosi Moloi Sekgoma in 1972.
A community builder and visionary leader, Kgosi Mmirwa is said to have led mephato (tribal regiments) to building all schools in Bobonong, starting with Mafetsakgang Primary School, save for Bobonong Primary School which was in existence when he assumed the reins.
Having led Babirwa when the area was ‘virtually barren and clearly undeveloped’ Kgosi Mmirwa reportedly fought to have Bobonong become the headquarters of Bobirwa against the initially planned for Sefophe, according to Kgosi Garegae.
Kgosi Mmirwa apparently argued that with Sefophe being the headquarters of Bobirwa, a large contingent of Babirwa will suffer lack of services as the village was just close to Selebi-Phikwe Town Council. “When he relocated the main kgotla to its current location, many Babirwa protested the decision, vowing they will not attend meetings there because it was far away from them. Look now where it is,” he said about Kgosi Mmirwa’s foresight.
The kgotla in question, it is reported, was built on his insistence against vacating the Rural Administration Centre, built on a land reportedly belonging to the tribal administration. At the end he got a nod to be built tribal administration offices where they currently sit, between RAC and Bobonong Sub Land Board offices.
Now, presiding over tribal affairs of his people, Kgosi Letso feeds off the lessons drawn from his father who would spend his resources to ensure that people were taken a good care of.
“He loved and stoked happiness in people. That was his mantra and core belief,” said Kgosi Letso about his humble father.
Humble he was that he loathed wearing his crown with arrogance and oppressing those who looked up to him for tribal affairs.
“He’d advise me that I should always be ready to work with area councillor and village development committee members because waging war against the two would end with the community suffering the consequences,” kgosi Letso said about his father who found consultation a pillar in community engagements.
Mr. Daniel Makwana, a maternal uncle of Kgosi Mmirwa and a former councillor for Molalatau said that Kgosi Mmirwa was always slow to verbal response even under constant provocation.
“He listened keenly to every word that comes out of your mouth and would accord you all the time on earth to state your case without interruption whatsoever,” said Mr. Makwana who added that Kgosi Mmirwa would often laugh heartily to help people settle in.
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