GASEITSIWE
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Gaseitsiwe, (circa 1820-1889) was chief of the Ngwaketse, or Bangwaketse, of what is now Botswana, ruling from 1857 to 1889, and unifying his people after a time of division.
He was a grandson of Makaba II, who had increased the power and importance of his people. After Makaba’s death in 1829, the Ngwaketse had suffered severely from the depredations of Ndebele and other raiders and from their own dissensions. In addition, although Gaseitsiwe was the direct heir to the chieftainship, his uncle Sebego had usurped power. After living for a time with the dissident Ngwaketse in the western Transvaal, Gaseitsiwe returned to Kanye in what is now southeastern Botswana in about 1846, and drove Sebego from power. After lengthy fighting, he finally defeated Sebego’s son, Senthufl, in 1857.
Gaseitsiwe has been described by the Scottish missionary Robert Moffatt as being “naturally of a gentle and easy disposition.” He nevertheless displayed ruthless determination in the struggle for power. Once power was attained, however, he unified his people, allowing all dissidents to return to Kanye in 1859, and thereby permanently consolidating the unity of the Ngwaketse.
He also formed an alliance with his northern neighbors to resist Boer penetration into the region, and, with most of the other principal chiefs, in 1885 accepted British protection over what was then called Bechuanaland. He likewise settled the main boundary disputes between his people and their African neighbors. He was succeeded by his son Bathoen I.
L.H. GANN
