By progressives I am not only talking about members nor activists of the Alliance for Progressives. I am talking about each and every citizen who believes and stands for justice, the truth, good governance, democracy and anti-corruption. That is all that being a progressive stands for and that is what Gomolemo Motswaledi stood for.
Many may not know it and many may not even fathom it’s impact and effect but some of us do fathom the invincible way of how you rescued this country from the claws of a dictator in the making.
The foot prints of great men reincarnate not in their lifetime, nor in the short term but many years after their departure or many years after they were imprinted and great men die young.
Personally because I and a many others had the privilege of being privy to this immortal and immeasurable contribution, find it befitting and most of all appropriate to say thank you Sir G. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of this beautiful nation, those unaware and those conscious to the fact, I say thank you Gomolemo Motswaledi . The price you, your family and us your friends paid is indeed immense but the reward to this nation is priceless and will be enjoyed in the many years to come.
I am not here to argue with anybody but to state a conviction. Whether one disagrees or concurs with me is a debate for another day but the bottom line in this is my profound conviction and only time and history will adjudicate on this conviction.
From the time when President Ian Khama ascended to the presidency, to the time when he technically expelled you from the BDP, to the formation of the BMD, Khama was feared in and outside the BDP.
People spoke in hushed tones and whispers and chose with utmost prudence who they spoke to. Never before had I seen this nation so scared and so deprived of their freedom. Political activists experienced an instant disconnection from family and friends who feared persecution of being associated with those actively involved in opposition politics. Especially those in the BMD.
All this began to change in and around 2012 and diminished altogether in 2014 and beyond. Not only did you face up to this monster but inadvertently you instilled courage and resilience amongst many. You sensitised and educated our people on the importance of fighting for their rights and understanding what democracy is all about. You became the vanguard of political consciousness and political education to this generation.
In 2009 the BDP had garnered a close to 54 % popular vote but the naysayers remained optimistic that the Khama magic wand would turn things around in 2014 which was never to be. Disappointingly in 2014, for the first time since independence the BDP received a shocking result of garnering 47 per cent of the popular vote. The end was nigh. The monsters grip on the ruling party and the country began to slip and today we celebrate his departure and that of his cronies.
It was after the disappointing 2014 results that the BDP began to develop the balls to start indicating their displeasure at the dissipation Khama had brought unto their party.
It was at this juncture that Khama himself realised that he now had limits as to how far he could get the BDP to dance to whatever whims he so wished to impose unto his father’s party. Many may disagree with me but was it not for your bravery to challenge the man and split the BDP, he could have used his grip on the BDP and their numbers in parliament to alter the constitution to give him an extended term in office.
They endorsed the purchase of the Grippen jets against their will why then would they be reversing the purchase today? The answer is only one, they feared to defy him.
The odds had turned around. He continued to have his hold at executive level simply because whether they agreed with him or not, it was important to them to retain their cabinet posts and to do so they were compelled to dance to the master’s tune and dance they did.
Undoubtedly that of cause still gave him three or so aces out of four and that is how he managed to survive his last term.
Fast backwards where did his fourth ace fall off ?
20 March 2010 in Mogoditshane at the Big Five where three hundred and sixty or so men and women braved that mornings cold against the sternest of warnings against that gathering, to make a final decision to break away from the BDP.
The warning was splashed all over her state media, BTV and radio Botswana. Something unprecedented with all the hallmarks of the Holocaust. Truth be told could it not have been for the threats and intimidation that came with that state media broadcast, five thousand plus people could have graced the occasion. Multitudes in and outside the BDP did not agree with the man at all, but because of fear they could not attend or display their displeasure publicly.
We who thronged the big five did so out of bravery but over and above that, solely because of the believe and trust in the leadership of none other than the legendary Gomolemo Motswaledi who ironically was absent at the Big Five due to work commitments.
That was the beginning of the Khama defiance, the first step to derailing a grand plan of tyranny and dictatorship.
Not only should we thank Gomolemo Motswaledi but his lieutenants in Ndaba Gaolathe, Wynter Mmolotsi, Binki Kerileng , Rre Gabonewe, Rre Bobi, Ausie Masego, Rre Segopolo and many other stalwarts who thronged the occasion and inspired the youth that were there. I simply call them the disciples of Gomolemo Motswaledi.
But above all, the courage and conviction that rather than endure the dictatorial tendencies of Ian Khama, we chose to rather be followers of this child of God, Gomolemo Thatayaone Motswaledi.
My envisaged conviction is right now we would be talking about Tshekedi Khama being president of this country, or Ian Khama having extended his term of office .
As the BDP celebrate the Masisi incumbency, they should never forget to give thanks to Gomolemo Motswaledi for having paved the way to eradicating the tyranny that Khama had tried to build and establish, that he is infallible.
Was it not for Gomolemo Motswaledi, we would be talking a different story today. It is thus only proper and befitting that not only myselfand the opposition fraternity, but even the BDP fraternity find time to give thanks to Gomolemo Motswaledi . We in the opposition can only go as far as saying thank you. But as for the BDP, their thank you can be multifold . They are in control and can show their gratitude by naming our national stadium, a hospital or some senior secondary school after Gomolemo Motswaledi.
I will admit, just like most Batswana I am superstitious thus belive that failure by the Masisi administration to honour and recognise this hero will spell bad omen on him and the BDP.
The assassination of John Kalafatis was a deliberate intention to instil fear upon us and it nearly worked. Men like Sir G, Ndaba Gaolathe and Dumelang Saleshando to name a few, become the vanguard in evaporating the planned intention.
Today even within the used to be feared DIS, we have friends who are progressive. Something that was unheard of around 2009 and 2010. God is not a fool.
Even within the BDP there are those with progressive minds and they can attest to this truth, that they are free at last. As we celebrate the departure of the Khama and his cronies let us take a pause and reflect on where it all began, how it unfolded and give credit where it is due. Many men and women do deserve the credit but today I want us to focus on this man, Gomolemo Thatayaone Motswaledi.
To president Masisi I urge you to move fast and establish robust independent institutions. The problem is never the man and men, but the absence of institutions that gives them the leeway to doing as they please. Never, and never again should this beautiful country have to go through what it went through in the last ten years of the Khama regime.
May God bless the Motswaledi family, the progressives at large and the Republic of Botswana.
Long live Sir G long Live.
