I thought that I should wait for those more worthy than me to pay their tribute to a fallen hero ya Mokaulengwe. Perhaps I now may. In the Domkrag politics of the 1990s, I was of a different faction than was Sir G, but you would never ever have thought so from his attitude towards me, and to those of my faction. He was of such noble birth he almost was apologetic for belonging to another faction, not that his conviction of the correctness of his cause was any less. That is who he was: a charitable yet principled being. Being younger than me by some 12 or so years and of a different faction, we did not then associate closely.
His royal charisma was, however, of such a character that one did not need to associate with him to know him, and to know him well. The close association was left to an inevitable future. We were to stand shoulder to shoulder in the trenches fighting for the maintenance of democracy and the rule of law in the BDP and the country against almost invincible forces. We were vindicated, at least for a time, for Hon D K Kwelagobe was elected Chairman and he, Sir G, was elected Secretary General at the Kanye Congress, together with other Bakaulengwe who had shared the trenches in a fight of monumental importance to the BDP.
I had been out of active politics since the mid-1990s, but had been forced to make a call to battle in the Sunday Standard, and to return to activity in order to join Sir G and others in a fight to maintain a principle which had hitherto been fundamental to all things BDP. My intention had been to again leave active politics after Kanye, which is why I had declined an invitation by him to take someone’s place to seek an ordinary membership of the Central Committee prior to Kanye.
But that was not to be, for our hope that the Party at Kanye had decided the manner in which it would be run in future were dashed by a President who then seemed unprepared to accept the will expressed by the Party at Kanye. Sir G, others and I had to continue the righteous fight, but the forces against which we were ranged were so formidable we were forced to leave the BDP and establish the BMD.
IN ALL THESE BATTLES, SIR G WAS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF, AS ONLY HE COULD BE, GIVEN HIS EXCEEDING EXCEPTIONABILITY. It was, therefore, extraordinarily fitting that he should have been the founding President of the BMD. I ran against him, against all urging by those who place expediency above principle, understanding all too well that he would win; widespread talk, of which I knew he disapproved, was that the BMD had been formed for him. The point had to be made to the country that the BMD, even as it had extraordinary individuals such as Sir G had been founded, not for any individual, but for everybody who belonged in it, and above all for the nation. I had to run against him to make this point. Contrary to what the cynical might think, and they are not in short supply, Sir G and I stayed friends to the day of his passing. He frequently spoke to my friends about me in affectionate terms and, although I had left the Movement, never did a month pass without him coming by my office to see me.
My office had standing instructions that he was my President, and that all his needs were to be met whenever he presented them. The last time he came was soon after the launch of the UDC Manifesto. He did not find me, but left me three copies of the Manifesto and a movingly loving note. When I subsequently called and asked him why I deserved three copies, he issued that characteristic laugh and declared that one copy was not enough for me, calling me “Rara” as he had always done. Sir G’s was a life exceedingly well lived. Because he was human he was, like all of us, not perfect, but his talents and abilities so outweighed his weaknesses the latter paled to nothingness. He was a gift to all of us, for which we thank his family and the Lord for the time, however too brief, for which we had the privilege to know and work with him. My belief is that he was withdrawn by his Maker who must have taken the view that Sir G had served his mission in this world. And who can know better than He at whose will and by whose grace we all live!
There is widespread public concern at the manner in which Sir G passed, and that he may have been assassinated. I pray not, but if it should turn out that he was, may those responsible for it burn in eternal hell! My family and I have made our contribution to an investigation of the circumstances surrounding his passing. When Hon Modubule, the Chairman of the BMD called and informed me that foul play was suspected, I offered that my family would pay the fee and expenses entailed by the engagement of an expert Forensic Pathologist.
Asked to invite Dr Reggie Perumal, who I knew well, to perform the role, I invited the Pathologist to stay the night at our house for two reasons. To avoid hotel costs and, more importantly, we wanted him to come into the country on the Sunday evening little noticed to avoid unwelcome attention, stay the night in a private and not a public place, do the work the following morning on Monday, and promptly fly out soon thereafter. Only my family and about 4 people in the UDC knew of this arrangement. I did not see him when he was here as I was in Johannesburg.
Finally, Sir G left us a deeply fractured nation, in an effort to repair which he gave his life. I know that he would not have wanted his death to divide us further as a nation. Accordingly, I ask that we should all honour his memory by acting to promote peace amongst us all whatever our differences, and to unite and work to make Botswana a better place. MAY THE SOUL OF OUR HERO REST IN ETERNAL GLORIOUS PEACE!
