Succession to High Office in Botswana: Three Case Studies

by Jack Parson

Overview

This book examines the process through which the mantle of leadership passed from one leader to another in Botswana. It concerns the succession to high office in Botswana over the course of more than half a century from the colonial time to the present. Three case studies explore the relationship between the British colonial authorities and the tribal leaders in affirming the legitimacy of the tribal chiefs of the Bangwato tribe in the former Bechuanaland protectorate. The studies examine the succession crises of the Bangwato first in 1925 and again between 1948 to 1953 and the political changes from the Botswana National Archives contained in the appendices fully support the text.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780896801578
Publisher:	Ohio University Press
Publication date:	05/01/1990
Series:	Ohio RIS Africa Series , #54
Edition description:	1
Pages:	468
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Jack Parson is Associate Professor of Political Science at the College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, 29424. Neil Parsons may be contacted through the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University, London, England. Michael Crowder at the time of his death in 1988 was affiliated with the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, London University, London, England. Previously he had been Professor and Head of the Department of History at the University of Botswana.

Table of Contents

	Preface	ix
Chapter 1.	Legitimacy and Faction: Tswana Constitutionalism and Political Change	1
Chapter 2.	The Succession Crisis Over the Illness and Death of Kgosi Sekgoma II of the Bangwato, 1925	33
Chapter 3.	Seretse Khama and the Bangwato Succession Crisis, 1948-1953	73
Chapter 4.	Succession, Legitimacy, and Political Change in Botswana, 1956-1987	97
	Appendices	143
A.	Letter from Sekgoma Khama to J. Ellenberger, Resident Commissioner, requesting the banishment of Phethu Mphoeng from Sekgoma's country, received on 18 January 1924	145
B.	Petition to the Resident Commissioner from Phethu Mphoeng and Others complaining about Sekgoma Khama's rule, 21 January 1924	149
C.	Minutes of a meeting held at the Kgotla, Serowe, at 8 a.m. on Thursday, 29 October 1925 to discuss whether Chief Sekgoma should be treated by a European doctor or a traditional doctor	153
D.	Minutes of a meeting held at the Resident Magistrate's office, Serowe, at 10 a.m. on the 19th December 1925 to discuss the future of the tribal Advisory Council formed after Sekgoma's death but prior to the assumption of power by the Regent, Tshekedi Khama	161
E.	List of Members on the Bamangwato Council, 1925. Attachment to the Letter from the Resident Commissioner to the High Commissioner, 21 November 1925	165
F.	Letter from the Resident Magistrate, Serowe, informing the Government Secretary, Mafeking, of the Resident Magistrate's view in favor of retaining the Bamangwato Advisory Council, 21 December 1925	167
G.	'Rex Versus S. and O. Ratshosa': Evidence given by the Regent Tshekedi Khama on 22 and 23 June 1926 in the trial of Simon and Obeditse Ratshosa for the attempted murder of Tshekedi Khama	169
H.	Reports on the proceedings of the three kgotlas held during the period from November 1948 to June 1949 to discuss Seretse Khama's marriage to Ruth Williams	195
I.	The British Government Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations' Memorandum to the Cabinet titled the "Bechuanaland Protectorate: Succession to Chieftainship of the Bamangwato Tribe" on the subject of whether to establish a judicial enquiry, C.P.(49) 155, 19th July 1949	311
J.	Report of the Judicial Enquiry Re Seretse Khama, of the Bamangwato Tribe, "The Harragin Report," 1 December 1949, finding that Seretse Khama should not be recognized as Chief of the Bamangwato Tribe	317
K.	The British Government Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations' Memorandum to the Cabinet recommending that Seretse Khama not be recognized as Chief of the Bamangwato, and Cabinet conclusions C.P.(50) 13, 26 January 1950	351
L.	Reports of meetings between the external "Observers" and various public gatherings during August 1951 on the question of the return of Tshekedi Khama to the Bamangwato Reserve	365
M.	Reports of "Observers" on the attitude of the Bamangwato Tribe to the return of Tshekedi Khama to the Bamangwato Reserve (1951)	385
N.	Notes on a meeting between the Resident Commissioner and the Chiefs at Lobatsi on the 23rd of June 1962 during which the Chiefs expressed their concerns about the role of chieftaincy in the process of constitutional development	407
O.	Notes on a meeting between the Resident Commissioner and the Chiefs at Lobatsi on the 28th August 1962 at which the Resident Commissioner addressed the concerns of the Chiefs about their role in constitutional and political party development	415
P.	Notes on a meeting between Her Majesty's High Commissioner and the Chiefs at Lobatsi on the 14th April 1964 to discuss constitutional and political developments related to the role of Chiefs	429