Botswana National Front activist, David Mhiemang, will be buried today (Sunday 29) in his home village of Molepolole.
Mhiemang, age mates say, joined the BNF from the Independence Party of Motsamai Mpho in the late 1960s, campaigning for the organisation in Selibe Phikwe where he was a businessman in later years. He stood for office in the difficult constituencies of Molepolole where the Botswana Democratic Party’s stalwart, Daniel Kwelagobe, has delivered the parliamentary and council seats for his party.
Mhiemang had a passion for education, often portraying himself as a journalist, political scientist and lawyer. He had studied law at the University of Bophuthatswana where, some students say, he ran into conflict with the then Chief Minister, Lucas Mangope, for inciting students to rebel against the Bantustan leader. Mhiemang was in the students’ representative council.
Mhiemang returned to Botswana sporting for office at the Botswana National Front where he secured the position of secretary for legal affairs.
Below the façade that Mhiemang often presented to strangers, there was a deep seated commitment to his organisation. His name appears in international journals that report on violence against journalists.
Mmegi reported that Mhiemang had physically abused one of their staff. Mhiemang stood by his guns, declaring that the reports of the newspapers were biased against the party he loved.
‘Dave’ retired to his farm in Kweneng where he was befallen by tuberculosis, friends report. He finally succumbed to the disease after a long struggle in hospital.
