A true political soldier of opposition

Daniel Chida
POLITICAL STALWART: Malatsi Mokhubami

I won’t vote anyone who doesn’t adhere to the political ethos of the revolutionary political movement- Mokhubami

Long time Botswana National Front Party member in good standing, Malatsi Days Mokhubami is a popular figure in the political arena.

The BNF cadre in the true spirit of “ Puo Phaa” never shies away from speaking his mind and has been consistent with that in the two decades he has been party member.

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The Voice Staffer, DANIEL CHIDA speaks to the man who started his political activism in Selebi-Phikwe immediately after the BNF Palapye political fiasco which gave birth to BCP in 1998.

Share your BNF journey.

It started in Selibe Phikwe where I served in various party structures holding different positions at cell, ward and constituency levels.

During those days I had an opportunity to attend political education classes where I listened to the then BNF political veterans like Obonetse Menyatso, Peter Mothobi, Mareledi Giddie and the then BNF president and leader Dr Kenneth Koma educating us about the importance of seriously participating in the revolutionary politics of emancipating the downtrodden in the society from the yoke of the ultra-capitalist BDP regime.

Some of my political mentors or great opposition political stalwarts who inspired me to love BNF or leftist politics include the former BCP leader, Gilson Saleshando, the late Marshall Masilo (MHSRS) Gabriel Kanjabanga and the late Elmon Tafa (MHSR)

Q. You have always been overlooked when it comes to allocation of constituencies and wards, do you still intend to contest?

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“Yes” I will do that in 2024. This doesn’t necessarily mean that I want to be given a ward on a silver platter.

I’m actually well prepared to contest for a council seat in one of Gaborone North Constituency wards, and I’m not going to be scared by the BNF primary election challenge because I believe someone’s capability needs to be tested at the internal elections of his/her respective political party.

In fact that’s a true definition of democracy and it must be embraced by anyone who adheres to the elementary principles of genuine democracy.

Q. You have been there since UDC was formed until today, what are your observations so far?

UDC in its current form needs to seriously introspect if at all we are committed to unseat the BDP from state power in the coming 2024 general elections.

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That BDP under Masisi’s leadership is very weak is public knowledge and no one can dispute that fact but that doesn’t mean the entire opposition community must relax and think removing the political party from state power especially the BDP, which has been in government for so long is going to be an easy thing, that would be a serious political miscalculation.

Q. Can you share the state of affairs at UDC right now?

How the opposition lost or won constituencies in the 2019 general elections needs to be known and owned by all UDC structures throughout the country, so that we place ourselves in a better place as we approach the country’s 2024 national polls.

Membership of the opposition coalition needs to know how the BDP rigged elections in 2024, and it’s the responsibility of the top leadership of opposition coalition to insure such information effectively reaches the relevant stakeholders.

Q.Two more opposition parties (AP and BPF) are likely to join, do you think the coalition would still work?

I believe AP and BPF should come on board and be part of the noble cause. In politics what matters most when opposition political parties enter into cooperation talks and eventually agree to form an opposition unitary force, is the importance of sitting down and thereafter coming up with a coherent and clear economic development policy to get the country out of the endemic crisis once the opposition coalition attains state power.

Q.But already we see some infighting.

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The problem with some of my fellow opposition members is that sometimes they spend time centering their debates on certain individuals and not on how we can find a suitable way to make sure all political parties that make up the UDC work together in a manner that instills hope in the electorate, especially non-aligned party voters.

Q. What is happening at the University of Botswana with BCP being left out of the UDC’s Moono wa Baithuti?

In my political point of view, I still believe the current political fraught relationship between members of BCP and BNF at the country’s highest learning institution can be easily managed only if some of our elderly people from the opposition parties refrain from fuelling the self- inflicted crisis, and come up with a remedial solution to the so-called political war.

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What needs to be done is to emphasize bringing those who are into this “war” together for the sake of peace and sanity within Moono WA Baithuti movement.

BNF congress, if it happens who do you prefer to lead and why?

Any BNF Presidential contender who has the best interests of the BNF at heart will get my vote in the coming elective congress.

Here I’m talking about a revolutionary leader who respects the character and nature of the BNF.

In fact I won’t vote anyone who doesn’t adhere to the political ethos of the revolutionary political movement.

My only advice to my leadership is that leaders emerge and not imported from somewhere else.

BNF needs to be represented at both parliamentary and council levels by its cadres who understand its aims and objectives.

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