§ 31. Mr. Fenner Brockwayasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what reply he has sent to the 69 members of the Serowe Kgotla who have protested against an order to repair the tribal kgotla and kraal when such an order should only be given by the chief of the tribe.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Commander Allan Noble)The law of the Bechuanaland Protectorate provides that a chief, sub-chief, headman or African authority may call on tribal labour for minor communal services. This accords with Tswana law and custom.
No representations have been received except those which the hon. Member forwarded to me.
§ Mr. BrockwayDo not those representations represent the view of 69 leaders of the tribe? Will not the hon. and gallant Gentleman do something to try to settle this issue about the chieftainship of the tribe, taking advantage of 683 the coming visit of Tshekedi Khama to try to bring about a meeting between him and Seretse Khama on this matter?
§ Commander NobleThe number which the hon. Member quoted is a very small proportion of the tribe, and there is no evidence that the tribe as a whole were opposed to the carrying out of the order. In fact, the new Proclamation of 1956, which was the law I quoted, was drawn up in consultation with and with the support of a committee of the African Advisory Council.