- Some not happy with inaugural launch at Maun Kgotla
- Organisers say Maun launch was start of district roadshow
Some Bayeyi tribesmen in Ngamiland have expressed their displeasure at the decision by the Bible Society Botswana to launch the Shiyeyi bible at the Maun main kgotla instead of the Gumare kgotla as they had preferred.
However, the organisers of the event have since ruled out malice, but that the launch at the Maun Kgotla was a precursor of a district wide road show that will commence next week to launch the bible.
The launch, held recently at the Batawana main Kgotla was officiated by Vice President Slumber Tsogwane.
But that was not proper procedure according to Executive Branch Chairman of the Kamanakao Association Timothy Samoxa, who argued that Gumare village is the headquarters of the Bayeyi tribe and everything that has to do with the tribe should be done at the village.
He noted the Kamanakao Association mandate is to advocate for the right of Bayeyi and stand as their voice in every issue.
He explained that from way back, it is no secret that Bayeyi and Batawana have not been in good terms.
“We are not happy about the development but we appreciate the good work of publishing the bible in our language therefore we urge each and every one to be calm and look at the bigger picture of a bible that we can read and understand,” he said.
Samoxa added that the bible will accommodate and benefit everyone, like the English version is read around the world.
Representative from the Bible Society Botswana, Baseki Baloi revealed in an interview with this publication that the Maun launch was the beginning of their roadshow throughout Ngamiland.
Baloi further revealed that the Shiyeyi bible launch road show will from next week take them to villages of Gumare, Etsha 6, Etsha 13, Sepopa, Seronga and Gunotsoga among the areas where Bayeyi are found.
She explained that the event was a collaboration between the Maun Ministers Fraternal and the Bible Society of Botswana, adding that they intend to launch and avail the bible to Batswana and the world, and not just to Bayeyi.
One of the Kamanakao Association activists Motlamedi Moqwa opined that the decision to launch the bible at the Batawana kgotla was a good one as it symbolized peaceful relations between tribes, something that defines Botswana as a free and peaceful nation. He believes that the bible launch is a national project because it is the word of God though written in Shiyeyi language. This he said does not mean it is a must for it to be launched in Gumare.
