The noise from cartoons on the TV being watched by Moupo’s youngest son, Mopati, constitutes 90 percent of the sounds generated inside the house and occasionally kills the silent moments that prevail whenever the conversation ceases.
Trying to relax and ease the vexing tight schedule of office work and politics seems not to work for the BNF president as on several occasions the conversation accidentally shifts to politics, a fact that proves beyond a doubt that the man is very deeply entrenched in political issues.
All of a sudden, an unusual topic crops up. Rra Mpho - Moupo’s affectionate household name - narrates how he met his better half, Grace Moupo during their school days in 1978. Moupo by then was a student at Moeng College and Grace was at St Joseph’s College. The distance between them was not in anyway an obstacle and Moupo remembers well, how he used to write letters to Grace, the coloured envelopes highly decorated with coloured pencils.
But mostly they would share sweet moments during school holidays in their home village of Pilikwe.
His political passion can be traced as far back as his school days, when he became aligned to the Botswana National Front. The fact that he was a member of the history society and one of the best debaters at school also enhanced his political career.
A former Standard Bank employee, he also made acquaintances with party veteran Mareledi Giddie and now BCP politician James Olesitse in Serowe, and the two veterans broadened his horizons in the political fields.
In 1980, he enrolled for a law programme and moved to Swaziland where he met fellow BNF members and ANC colleagues with whom he formed a study group. This also strengthened the “umbilical cord” that existed between him and the BNF.
He was then moved to UB to continue with his law programme and there again he made sure that he encircled himself with the BNF theory.
Moupo remembers well the day he went to study in Scotland, between 1982 and 1984, where he also interacted with other politicians and initiated the International Union of Students. It was during his reign as a member of the society that he was appointed a representative of the Botswana Students’ Council in Europe before returning to Botswana for his final year. He believes the political knowledge he acquired from the study groups is equivalent to a PhD.
From 1985 to 1992 he was a government employee but he ensured that he never missed a BNF congress.
He was actively involved in the party’s youth wing with the likes of Akanyang Magama, Elmon Tafa and the late Obonye Legwaila.
It was only in 1997 - 18 years after joining the party - that he joined the central committee and began addressing political rallies. The committee was dispersed by Kenneth Koma after the 1998 fights. He says that at the time, the party was never involved in building up its structures, instead a good amount of time was spent reconciling members and calming down hostilities that existed within the BNF.
This went on until the 1998 split. He did not witness the fight that ensued one night during the Palapye congress because he was attending the conference from his home in Radisele. “We had reached a stalemate before we parted that evening and agreed that the issues would be discussed further the following day.
I do not know what erupted that night, but was greeted by stones and sticks that were used in the fight and I could not understand the whole scenario,” he says.
He was one of the people who remained in the BNF when others formed the BCP and stressed that he was never in doubt that re-forming the BNF was a viable option. “Some people thought I was being unreasonable but I never doubted that the incident was just a temporary set back.”
Though the BNF suffered political bruises after the incident, Moupo believes the party has managed to survive the test.
He remembers well the time when BNF was at its lowest, after irregularities by the ruling party that impacted negatively on his party and the BNF contemplated boycotting the coming general elections. He issued a document entitled “Should BNF Boycott Elections?” The document is believed to have made an impact after the issue was debated at length and the party participated in the next elections.
Moupo is eyeing a seat in parliament after winning the Gaborone West North by-elections. As the party president, he is tasked with addressing the handicap that BNF MPs are not in amicable terms and believes the whole issue is particularly unfair. However, he stated that the August house itself is not his goal, but the lives of people outside is what matters. He said once in Parliament he would ensure that the weaknesses of the ruling party are exposed. Moupo states that the opposition must also ensure that they address disarticulation of issues in parliament and ensure that there is coordination in the way they articulate issues.
He said he would also ensure that the party profile is taken to new heights and that the party interacts with NGO’s.
“I will also have time to concentrate more on party issues.” He stated that his party policies are up to date with whatever is happening in the country and that their views and opinions are as modern as the problems the country is facing.
The first time Moupo addressed a political rally was after the split and admits that even today he has not made it to the best speaker’s category. He revealed that he can express himself better in writing than speaking in the public, a talent he inherited from Koma. He also prefers back room deliberations and being a resource person and enjoys writing party issues.
“I initially did not have a stage pride but you finally master the art. I do my best to say sensible things and make sure I prepare my facts because running out of facts creates a mental block.
Moupo says he hardly responds to personal attacks. He used to use different pen names when he wrote in local newspapers, but by virtue of his position, he has ceased doing that, but admits that he misses writing.
He believes that cooperation of opposition parties will yield good results and that it is the best way to shorten BDP’s lifespan.
The moral and financial support from his family on his political passion is just overwhelming. His family admits that they hope he wins in the coming elections and appreciate the trust the BNF has seen in him. He admitted that combining legal practice and politics is a tall order. The two things he says, need a lot of reading.
Moupo and Grace who tied the knot in 1986 have three offsprings. The first born, Mpho has just finished her law degree and currently works in her father’s law firm in Gaborone. The second born Maipelo has enrolled for an Administrative Assistant course with Boston University while the last-born, Mopati is a Standard 6 student at Mount Pleasant English Medium.
Grace, who is a teacher by profession is currently completing a degree in primary education at UB.
The family goes to Radisele during holidays just to enjoy the serenity and peace and also to connect with their roots.
