Youth leaders of the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) have challenged President Ian Khama to take responsibility for the erosion of public trust in state security agencies and suspicions of foul play that currently exist with regard to the death of Gomolemo Motswaledi.
Motswaledi, who was Secretary General of the UDC, passed away in a suspicious car accident on Wednesday. When addressing a press briefing on Friday, Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) Youth League President Phenyo Mokete Segokgo said Motswaledi’s death cannot be treated as an isolated and unsuspicious act of nature and called for an independent investigation into his death. He added that they are aware that Khama nurtured a deep seated hatred for Motswaledi and what he stood for.
“Sir G fought against Khama’s rule by fear. We demand an independent investigation into his death and we cannot trust state security apparatus to conduct a fair investigation because they are under Khama’s control. Until evidence is produced to the contrary, we view Sir G’s death as an act of criminality,” he said.
He said they have heard of allegations of existence of a hit-list and declared that they will not accept Motswaledi’s death as an act of God until evidence is produced to the contrary through a transparent investigation. For his part, Kemmonye Makatane, President of Botswana National Front (BNF) Youth League, said it is now time to declare openly that Motswaledi was killed and start talking about “the killing of Motswaledi” instead of “the death of Motswaledi”.
The youth leaders also called on Batswana youth and civil society to join them as they intensify campaigns against the current regime by holding massive demonstrations and public rallies in the whole country.
