Chimbombi: Leading brains behind UDC manifesto
DR PATRICK MOLUTSI | Friday August 1, 2025 10:14
A man who lived a dedicated and selfless life. I first met him through his wife, with whom we worked together at the then Botswana Training Authority (BOTA), later BQA. He used to come around to pick up his wife. I also met him through his late younger brother, Prof Ezekiel Chimbombi, who lectured at BUAN.
As a family, the Chimbombis are kind, generous, and very friendly. I came even closer to Micus when his younger brother-in-law married in my home village Papatlo, and he came there as one of the Motswiri's (his wife's maiden surname) elders leading the marriage negotiations. We used to trade in business as I produce and sell lebelebele feed, and he would come from along the way from Gaborone to Metlojane to buy feed and travel to Makopong.
We became very close during our leadership of the Botswana National Front (BNF) - he as vice president and I as chairman. We went through difficult times, especially after the 2019 elections, which we lost. We protested the results, and some (14) of us were hit with huge bills of close to P200,000 each. Whilst we were struggling to raise funds, the deputy sheriffs took his valuable Isuzu bakkie. The way he handled this embarrassing threat to sell his property amazed me. He was calm and very collected.
Another incident happened at the radio debate in the 2024 election campaign. One of the opponents accused him of having blocked drilling, which also blocked the development of a public borehole so that the community could depend on his borehole.
These two incidents - attachment of his vehicle and accusation of blocking the drilling of a public borehole did not anger or frustrate him. He kept telling me, 'One day God will relieve us.” He was always calm and collected.
Dr. Chimbombi was one of the leading brains behind the two UDC manifestoes - 2019 and 2024. He was sharp in his thinking and extremely talented. Above all, he became a true and honest advisor to the BNF president, Duma Boko. When he was wrong, he was quick to admit and also frank and unshakeable in telling the truth as he saw it. He was older than Boko but was always very respectful.
Chimbombi was a truly religious man. Always praying and very helpful to people. He wanted people to be treated fairly and with compassion. He felt very unhappy that I was left outside Parliament after so much hard work and commitment we did our party win the 2024 elections. He has pledged to do justice for all the members of BNF.
On the UDC, too, he was a stalwart. He worked relentlessly to ensure the UDC succeeds. His eyes were always on the big goal - liberating Batswana from poverty and inequality.
Indeed, Chimbombi was a true patriot, a selfless leader, and a deeply religious man. He rests after a long and painful illness. His beloved wife, a daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren survive him. Rest in Peace, comrade Chimbombi. You shall be greatly missed.
*Dr Patrick Molutsi is Chimbombi’s friend and co-worker.