Lobatse legislator Thapelo Matsheka will run for the 2024 elections and is expected to turn his seat in parliament into a bully pulpit to fight against human rights abuses.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Standard, Matsheka revealed that the recent arrest and detention has not derailed his plans to seek a second mandate from his constituents. Indications however are that it has re-shaped his politics and weaponised him against human rights abuses by security officers.
Fielding questions from the Sunday Standard at his Gaborone residence following his release from detention, Matsheka said the ‘harassment’ and ‘humiliation’ he suffered at the hands of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) has only served to strengthen his resolve to continue serving Batswana in Parliament.
He also condemned the state of detention centres at police stations. “The conditions are horrible.”
The same concerns regarding conditions at police cells were raised just a week before Matsheka himself was detained.
A United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention released a preliminary report condemning “poor detention conditions” that that it said are prevalent in police cells and prisons in Botswana. “Police detainees lack adequate bedding provisions. Prisoners sleep on the floor or on very thin mattresses and prison facilities require fundamental refurbishment to ensure proper running water and sanitation. There were numerous complaints about both the quality and quantity of the food provided,” the report says.
Through out the ordeal the former minister’s body language belied the gritty optics of Botswana’s criminal justice system. Flanked by a coterie of escorting officers and restrained by leg shackles so short they kept him at a shuffle with the chain clinking between his ankles, Matsheka never slouched. Back straight, shoulders square and chin up, he exchanged pleasantries with well wishers outside the court building.
And he was just as blithe during this interview.
Matsheka’s wife Veronica successfully filed an application with the Lobatse High Court last week demanding that her husband be released from detention following the DIS and Botswana Police Service’s failure to release him after more than 48 hours of detention without charge. The States’ attempt to extend the detention for the second time failed on Friday August 5, 2022 (72 hours later) as the Magistrates Court turned down their application for a further remand warrant.
“For me this was a rude awakening that nobody is immune to illegal detentions,” Matsheka told Sunday Standard. He believes the arrest was a sleight of hand to harm his political ambitions.
“I remain confident of the support I have from my constituents. They know me better. And I will stand for elections again in 2024.” The Lobatse Member of Parliament says the margin between himself and his opponents in 2019 speaks for itself. He defeated his opponent by a 4,000+ margin, garnering 6,705 votes against Umbrella for Democratic Party (UDC)’s Orapeleng Kakoma’s 2,238.
Matsheka did not rule out the possibility of standing for Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Central Committee elections scheduled for the weekend of August 26 – 28, 2022 in Tsabong. Asked by this publication if would accept nomination from the floor Matsheka would not give a definitive answer suffice it to say there are processes followed for one to be considered for candidacy.
“The role of the congress is to identify suitable candidates and elect party leadership accordingly.”
While Matsheka’s arrest was premised on the Lobatse missing child (whose whereabouts remain a matter for public debate) the legislator said he was asked questions about his relationship with the party’s current Secretary General Mpho Balopi.
Matsheka however would not provide this publication with context for the DIS’ line of questioning.
While he is not expected to defend his position at the Central Committee elections Balopi’s choice for candidates has remained a matter of concern within the BDP with many concerned about his ability to influence election outcomes.
So far former Minister Nonofo Molefi is the only known candidate to challenge party chairman Slumber Tsogwane, while the current deputy Secretary General Shaw Kgathi is expected to face off with Kavis Kario for secretary general. Kario is running alongside Tsogwane.
