The power of freedom square politics
Ryder Gabathuse | Tuesday January 23, 2024 09:29
Rachel wept for her children and refused to be comforted because they were no more. You come face-to-face with this reality when you witness a mother bird crying bitterly at a freedom square space for instance, because it cannot find its young ones where it had left them.
The poor chicks have gone missing after the considerably safe environment they have been raised in, has now become hostile to them and is easily accessed by ‘strangers’ who claim total rights to the space as political activity heightens.
For some time, in the absence of political activity, the area was purely the breeding place for various species of birds and other animals including rodents, ants and others in that secluded and serene environment.
Now, there is a twist, new aggressive users of the space have arrived leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of the poor ‘inhabitants’ of the space as their good time has been unceremoniously cut short. This is the other use of open spaces, otherwise known as freedom squares. As political activity amplifies, there will be incessant blaring sounds from the public address systems, which can be exasperating, to the poor birds and other residents as freedom squares mostly are chosen in the open spaces in towns and villages away from human activity. Clearing the freedom square for its political use, people disturb the serenity of the areas and unintentionally sometimes chase away the poor birds.
Besides this destructive nature of humanity, a freedom square is more like a ‘seedbed’ where new and aspiring politicians learn the language and the tricks of presenting a powerful and moving speech.
It is a place where men and women are separated from boys and girls in full view of their peers and masses that attend such political meetings. It is where politicians articulate issues closer to the people’s hearts and shine. It is a place where great orators are identified or those with the gift of the garb play to the gallery, demonstrating what they are simply endowed with.
This is where political careers are made or destroyed. Like God, a freedom square is not a respecter of persons. But, it takes the best-prepared politicians to impress. It is a bigger stage that ushers many to political opportunities at the council, Parliament or any other suitable space. It is where politicians shred each other to pieces through their well-packaged messages, demagoguery and expediency.
Just after exiting the public service, one of the country’s respected civil servants and politicians, the late Baledzi Gaolathe left a rally in stitches at Francistown’s Chedu Choga freedom square where he was roped in to address the meeting. Just like any other meeting, political rallies do have a set of protocols to observe. There is a specific language spoken at freedom squares totally distinct from others. At other non-political meetings, freedom square language and partisan politics are prohibited as the atmosphere remains apolitical.
Amid loud cheers, whistling and ululations, Gaolathe who was a political novice at the time, shouted Pula! Pula! which he was familiar with, as a long serving civil servant. The thing is, he had said it at the wrong place, as that is a way of expressing greetings at non-political meetings. As for politics, as he was a member of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) he should have shouted the slogan of the BDP of, A e jeke Domkrag! or Tsholetsa! with his clinched fist raised in the air.
In her history, Botswana has produced some of the outstanding freedom square hawks who have left long standing impressions in the minds of many through their unparalled abilities to hold people spellbound with their humour-loaded and entertainment-coloured politics. Botswana has had and still has gifted demagogues with skills to turn non-issues into big issues.
These are real soapbox orators who can tell a political mountain to move and it metaphorically moves, with their prickling language and expressions at the rallies.
These are politicians who were and are still capable to attract masses to the rallies without the power of money, food and alcohol that are often used to court masses to the rallies. A lot of them continue to be dearly missed as they have long departed to the other world.
The late founding father of the opposition Botswana National Front (BNF), Dr Kenneth Koma was such a politician who had the magical touch to use freedom square politicking to win the hearts and minds of the masses who remained loyal to him although his party never won the government, which has been its ultimate prize, but he gave the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) a run for its money.
Sample this: In one of his campaigns, Koma pleaded with the Gaborone South constituents to accept blankets and food materials from his challenger motor magnate Satar Dada who after he was Specially Elected MP during former president Festus Mogae’s tenure as the helmsman, he challenged him (Koma) for the parliamentary position but Koma used his wisdom to stand out and earned re-election.
Typical of Koma with his amusing language, he once said during his campaigns: “Thaakaa! Ha Dada a tisa dikobo, madi le borotho, thaakaa, le di tseye mme le tlhophe konopo e ntsho e e leroba (When Dada doles out bread, money and other niceties, just accept them but you know our party symbol, go and vote for the BNF)”.
It was more about how he presented his campaigns that it interested the more as he left his people eating out of his palms, leaving the crowds ecstatic and loving every minute of the address. He would choose to speak as if his teeth were tightened together making hard for him to speak. That was the old man’s style, which is today mimicked by thousands of his followers in reverence to ‘KK’ as Koma was fondly called. Koma was a sharp-witted, incisive critic, knowledgeable, patient with the people and was widely respected from across the political divide. Even his haters sometimes found themselves on his side.
Another loose canon and political entertainer, the late Maitshwarelo Dabutha who for the longest time was Gaborone North legislator was another freedom square giant. Endowed with the gift of the garb, he entertained his followers throughout his political life. He was the people’s favourite with a tendency of presenting major investigated questions in both Parliament and freedom squares. He once promised to drop a ‘bombshell’ to the masses, which left people highly expectant, which he never did in the real sense. He was fearless, aggressive and liked by the people who trusted him with major issues of national interest.
‘Ostrich’ as Paul Rantao, a journalist-cum-politician was fondly called, was another hell of an entertainer at political rallies. He spoke polished English and was knowledgeable on national and international issues. He had a tendency of dramatising issues as a way of succinctly sending his messages home. He also had a graphic memory, which helped him package his freedom square offerings to the best of his abilities. His death has robbed the nation of a fervent political entertainer who can only be remembered around these times. He was one of the few chosen political demagogues who were also stylish in attire with trousers often times pulled up to the level of the belly button.
One of the departed firebrands is Joseph Kavindama, who was the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) legislator for Okavango. He was another powerful political entertainer whose content and language was another entertaining combination at freedom squares. He came from an area where Hambukushu, the Bayei and the Banoka predominantly live. He had a challenge with Setswana language, and he did not mind taking short cuts to send his messages to his supporters with his corrupted Setswana with fillers from Hambukushu and Seyei. He was a crowd puller who had his appeal as an individual player. He called spade a spade to the amusement of his followers.
Even the late former vice president Mompati Merafhe was a marvel to watch especially at political rallies. He was a star who had good command of both the English language and the vernacular, Setswana. He knew how to deal with his opponents at both political rallies and inside Parliament.
Sample this: “... Wynter Mmolotsi lies like a cheap watch...He is a disgrace to opposition.” He would later further blast Mmlotsi who is the Francistown South MP: “... Hon MP Mmolotsi...You are a village idiot...You must go back to your village and entertain your community...you deprived your community the benefits of a local clown...You are nothing but a village clown.”
The former military commander would later turn his gun on Kentse Rammidi: “...Hon Rammidi is a lost young man...He is confused...in one month he moved from one political party to the other...He now says he is a member of the BNF...I have never seen a man a gaisiwa ke peba ka botlhale...You can never see a rat running towards a sinking ship...” Merafhe was fearless, aggressive and spoke his mind no matter the situation. BCP veteran politician Vain Mamela based in Francistown is also in a league of political entertainers who never miss an opportunity to dish out politics of mudslinging and character assassination. Behind the microphone, Mamela entertains audiences to the best of his abilities.
Few months ago, when the BCP raised concerns about its membership of the coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), in his element, at a political rally, Mamela the rabble-rouser shooting from his hip left the political rally in stitches with his popular suggestion: “Mongwe le mongwe ko ga mmaagwe (roughly translated means, all should return to their parties).” He said this at a time when the party executive leadership had promised to hold decisive talks with the UDC leadership on the future of the BCP maintaining UDC membership. Already, Mamela was behaving as if the whole thing was a failed endeavour.
Mmolotsi is another opposition politician who is also skilled to win the hearts and minds of the people, as he is also talented with the gift of the garb. It is his rallying abilities that have seen him winning the Francistown South constituency with three different political parties, which is quite rare to ordinarily happen. Raised in a family of ruling party politicians, he acquired political interest at a very young age, which has helped him to easily come up with own blended form of politics. Like Mamela of the BCP, Mmolotsi knows how to win the minds and hearts of the freedom square attendees and keep them following him.