Dear His Excellency The President Lieutenant General Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama,
RE: Mafhikana Ward
Dumela Monngwame. I would have arranged a special expedition to meet you together with my father in person in regards to this very important matter. However, since my father is late, and I am at Ga-Mmamosadinyana I believe pen and paper is the best presidential office, for now.
I see you were 27 years old too when you lost your father. Did they also say that you are the head of your family now at the kgotla, fa go duwa ko mabitleng?
Sir, while many celebrate and speak highly of the fact that the only two Nobel Laureates to have lived in the same street are the great Nelson Mandela and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as both legends have lived at the famous Vilakazi Street in Soweto, I proudly speak of two women born and bred in the great Mafhikana Ward of Kanye. The two epitomise a true Motswana woman that I know our grandmothers, our mothers, our sisters, our nieces and our children to be. I speak of Mme Edith Mmusi, and I speak of Captain Atamelang Koboyankwe. I strongly believe that you would agree with me that they each deserve, a Presidential Medal of Honour.
To confirm, Mme Edith Mmusi is the heroine who successfully rejected and challenged the Ngwaketse District Customary rule that only the youngest male can inherit the family home. A couple of houses from Mma Mmusi’s parents’ matrimonial home is Captain Koboyankwe’s parents home. Captain Koboyankwe is the highest ever-ranking woman in the Botswana Defence Force; she was also among the very first 30 women to join the Botswana army for the first time in 2007.
Further to this very prestigious award, may I also humbly suggest a documentary on BTV featuring the two great Mafhikana legends.
Ke a leboga Monngwame,
Blessing Kgosietsile Pelotshweu Kgasa, from Mafhikana
MRes International Development Student
University of Bath
England
Blessing Kgosi e tsile Kgasa 