The last leaf on the tree: Kenneth Nkhwa (1927–2024)
Jeff Ramsay | Friday December 20, 2024 14:59
As a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1965 until 1989, he represented the North East, later Tati West, constituency as a member of the Botswana People’s Party. Born in 1927, the late Nkhwa was also amongst our country’s last surviving World War II veterans. Like his long-time political ally, Philip Goanwe Matante, he was an NCO in the British armed forces during the Second World War, serving in the African Pioneer Corps in North Africa. Following his military discharge, Nkhwa completed his junior certificate at Tiger Kloof in 1948. In 1958, he married Grace Ntombinkulu. Nkhwa joined the Bechuanaland People's Party in 1963, initially serving as the party's South African Branch coordinator. As an MP, he supported opposition motions such as the creation of the Botswana Defence Force, the abolition of School Fees, and increased access to Secondary Education for Batswana children. After the 1984 General Election, Nkhwa was the only Botswana People's Party member in the National Assembly.
He lost re-election in the 1989 General Election by 351 votes. After leaving the National Assembly, he was appointed chairperson of the North East District Council and remained as Councillor from 1989 until 1999, when he retired from Politics. In 2002, Nkhwa became the Headman of Arbitration for the Nkhwa Ward in Gulubane village. He is an elder in the village and continued being a leading member of his community until his last days. His commitment to the principles of social upliftment saw him help many children with school fees payments, adopt and accommodate many children in his home so that they could go to school, and mobilise food rations during the drought years for his constituency.
The late Nkhwa will also be remembered as a farmer and a member of the UCCSA Makaleng branch in the North East District. In recognition of his service to the nation, Hon. Nkhwa received the Presidential Order of Meritorious Service Award in 1990, the Presidential Order of Honour in 2002, and the Golden Jubilee Honour in 2016. In 2019, he was further honoured by naming the Francistown Road interchange [‘Spaghetti’] after him. May his Soul Rest in Peace.