Former President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, became the subject of a public discussion at a recent kgotla meeting in Moshupa when it emerged that he established a Trust Fund-Ipelego Trust, on behalf of the tribe without their knowledge.
However, four weeks later, the former President has remained silent, offering no statement or clarification, despite repeated attempts by this publication to get his response.
According to some comments in the meeting, and some of the documents in our possession, the objectives of the Trust were not clearly laid down except the fact that the tribe says, “None of the objectives of the Trust relate to the community of Moshupa and surrounding villages.
The objectives are largely private and commercial.” The records show that there was no resolution whatsoever by the tribe or the community leadership to establish the Trust.
Furthermore, it was revealed that the former President sidelined Kgosi Oscar Mosielele in favour of his brother, Kgabosetso, to a point that he called meetings without Mosielele’s knowledge. Kgabosetso was appointed to the Customary Court of Appeal in 2008, giving his younger brother the seat as kgosi.
This perceived interference by the former president deepened divisions within both the royal family and the broader community. However, at the kgotla meeting in question, the two brothers confirmed that they have found peace.
It further surfaced that Kgabosetso was one of the trustees of the Ipelego Trust established by the former President, and it conducted business without the knowledge or tribal endorsement of Kgosi Mosielele.
One such event was the 2024 Moshupa Dam Hika la Ngwanyana Cultural Festival, which was held in April 2024, which involved Botswana Tourism Organisation, many government departments, and parastatals.
“I was strongly opposed to this event because it involved the use of Moshupa Dam without the consent and knowledge of the tribe. The dam was registered under the Trust, which was registered under the former President’s name. So, we cannot say this event was for the community,” said Oscar Mosielele in an interview following the kgotla meeting.
He said that the rift between him and the former president started then, and so did his sidelining. Kgosi Mosielele said that the Dam was listed among the assets for the Trust, and that the morafe are demanding the old Trustees to account for the event, which gave birth to some construction activities around the dam.
“We have found that there are construction works going on there – ablution blocks and a high fence, but we do not know the owners of the new infrastructure. We also want the old Trustees to account for the Hika la Ngwanyana event, from which the community got nothing,” Mosielele said. He added that the former President personally prepared for the 2024 Hika la Ngwanyana event.
However, there is also an unconfirmed P1 million donation allegedly made to the old Trust, which Mosielele said should also be accounted for if indeed it happened. There are already rumours that the tribe is planning to take the trustees to court at the end of the six months given to them to account.
Meanwhile, the former President has declined to respond to our questions either through an interview or written responses, only speaking through his spokesperson, Masego Mosate.
“Kindly note that the request for the interview has not been acceded to,” she said in an SMS.
Our Unanswered Questions to Masisi:
*Whether it is true that he established a Trust without the knowledge or participation of the Bakgatla ba ga Mmanaana tribe in 2016.
*Whether he followed procedure to establish the Trust.
*What were the objectives of the Trust and whether there were any assets registered under the Trust?
*Was the Hika la Ngwanyana Cultural Festival organised by the Trust, the government, or the Bakgatla ba ga Mmanaana tribe, and whether there were any royalties paid to the tribe?
*Whether he meddled in the affairs of the Moshupa chieftainship and caused divisions in the royal family?
*How was Masisi’s relationship with Kgosi Oscar Mosielele?
*Were there any donations to the Trust?
*Was there ever a P1 million donation to the Trust?
