From public service to party pillar: Chimbombi story
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday July 30, 2025 06:00
According to former Member of Parliament (MP) Phillip Khwae, Chimbombi joined the BNF in 2012, shortly after leaving the public service, where he had been suspended from his position as Permanent Secretary due to alleged links with the party.
At that time, Khwae said, Chimbombi was not yet involved in politics, but his brother, Moses Chimbombi, who was an active member of the party, played a pivotal role in recruiting him. He officially joined through the Makopong Ward structure as part of the constituency delegates for Kgalagadi South. 'From the moment he joined, he committed himself to strengthening the party’s presence in our area. He truly believed in unity,' Khwae recalled.
Chimbombi’s leadership abilities came into sharper focus during the 2019 party primary elections, where he faced off against John Toto. After winning the contest, tensions arose, and internal party conflicts emerged.
Despite this, Chimbombi chose not to retaliate. He even considered withdrawing to allow peace to prevail. However, the party refused his withdrawal, standing firm on the fairness of his victory. Subsequently, Toto contested the general election as an independent candidate. In November 2021, the Court of Appeal overturned a High Court judgment that awarded P1.7 million to Chimbombi for unfair dismissal. He was a permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The state had appealed against a 2019 Lobatse High Court judgment, which ruled in favour of Chimbombi and awarded him P1.7 million as compensation, which covered the remaining period of his tenure of employment contract.
In its judgment, the Court of Appeal pointed out that Chimbombi failed to prove that there was an agreement with the government that he would be paid for the balance of his contract. It also noted that Chimbombi, in the supposed agreement with the government, proposed that he be paid for the balance of his contract, or an amount of separation that would be considered reasonable. Again, in 2021, Dr Chimbombi’s car was auctioned together with some opposition members' property who lost petition appeals for the general elections after challenging the outcome and suspecting elements of rigging.
In 2022, during a BNF congress held at Ba Isago University, Chimbombi was elected as the party’s vice president. His nomination had been championed by the Western Region bloc, an informal alliance of Bakgalagadi-speaking communities from Kgalagadi and Ngwaketse, who often coordinated voting strategies despite the bloc not being a formal party structure.
Chimbombi went on to win the 2024 General Election, further solidifying his political influence. Yet, his impact extended beyond party politics. He played a significant role in advocating for local communities, most notably, ensuring that three farms intended for sale were instead allocated to area residents.
He also stood in solidarity with residents during disputes over the Banyana Farms issue, reinforcing his image as a grassroots champion. Despite political differences, Chimbombi remained accommodating and respectful toward members of other parties.
One notable instance of his inclusive spirit occurred during the memorial service of the late Keamogetse Badirile of Thamaga. There, he welcomed Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) spokesperson Kagelelo Kentse to speak in honour of his friend, even though they had been political opponents. “They may have differed in ideology,” Khwae said, “but they were still drinking mates and respected each other deeply.”
However, legislator and former BNF secretary-general Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said Chimbombi has contributed a lot to the country, as he was a civil servant for many years, and that should be commendable. 'In the BNF, he was delegated to be the team president of the BNF as President Duma Boko was focusing on the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Due to his visionary leadership, the BNF came up with a historic five-year strategic plan. Also called a policy forum, and they got adopted. He was part of the Manifesto team with others. Also played a role in UDC stability. He was a culturalist and devoted Christian. He was a true leader,' Motshegwa said.