Blancha: Providing scrutiny, oversight in Parly
Ryder Gabathuse | Tuesday April 14, 2026 13:12
He is a bit controversial, but he is definitely passionate about representing his constituents. Perhaps, Mabeo, affectionately known as Blancha, has to be different from others who have represented Gamalete before him because of the dictatorial manner in which constituents have been alternating between the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and his party, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), in particular.
Blancha’s approach to politics is on trial to test whether it will give him more than one term in Parliament, as others before him (with their conventional methods) failed to win the hearts and minds of hard-to-please constituents and secure more than one term in Parliament. Parties have been given a single five-year term in every election cycle, and this might prove a mountain to climb for Blancha and his team to change the constituency’s seemingly rigid mindset.
In recent times, no party has been given more than one term. The people are very decisive, no matter how popular the party is. Gamalete is a high-stakes area and quite unpredictable. At kgotla meetings and elsewhere, Mabeo leaves a lasting impact on his followers with his well-crafted criticism of the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government. He is so humorous that sometimes it goes on the nerves of his detractors.
The BCP has been backing Mabeo for his proactiveness and assertiveness. The Gamalete legislator has been combining a bit of fact with a lot of hilarity to make his debates more effective. He has been the cynosure of all eyes, leaving his followers spellbound. His politics is styled alongside what the late opposition stalwart, Maitshwarelo Dabutha of his party used to dish out, sometimes promising a ‘bombshell’ that never was. What is interesting about Mabeo is his level of belligerence when debating national issues, often with his comical, hilarious deportment. Gamalete constituency is anchored mainly by Ramotswa, a village in the southeast district of Botswana, southwest of the capital, Gaborone.
The village is the tribal capital of the Balete, an ethnic majority springing from the Nguni tribe. Ramotswa is a typical rural village with confronts of unemployment and other societal ills, with Bolux Milling, a wheat and flour mill, as the main industry anchoring Gamalete. The village also manufactures metal products, in addition to its commercial activity and government, which employ a large number of people. Ramotswa’s population alone is estimated at about 33,271 people, and, including the localities around the village, the population grows to about 34,892. Otse, Mogobane, Mmokolodi, Taung and Boatle are some of the areas that support Ramotswa as part of the wider Gamalete constituency.
Ramotswa’s proximity to Gaborone city is a major plus. Generally, that Ramotswa is closer to Gaborone means it’s poised for growth, especially with the proposed rail link and industrial development. This could boost local businesses, create jobs and increase economic opportunities for residents. Mabeo is pushing for investment in the area, citing potential for manufacturing and agriculture. BCP Opposition Whip in Parliament and MP for Maun West, Carter Hikuama, describes Blancha as a valuable member of the party. “We recognise and value him for using a mix of facts and a ‘touch of humour’ to make debates engaging, which is the best and most effective way to get the public to pay attention to serious parliamentary matters.” He added that Blancha’s so-called “aggressive approach” by their opponents and detractors demonstrates boldness when it comes to facing serious and sometimes controversial issues that no one dares to touch. “While some consider his style too aggressive, we in the BCP take that as exactly the type of scrutiny and oversight needed in Parliament.
In my view, as the BCP Opposition Whip in Parliament to a large extent the whole party, I take his proactive and assertive style as a fit for the purpose approach.” It is Hikuama’s desire to have a robust opposition that scrutinises financial management and provides necessary checks and balances in an unwavering tone, “I would rather wish to have two or more additional members of his character.” In short, “he is an asset to the BCP as a party and nation as a whole. We are highly grateful and very happy to have him within our midst”. Mmegi columnist who prefers anonymity says about Blancha: “His God-given talent is his voice, and he uses it to effect in the hallowed House of Parliament.
You can call him the young lion of Gamalete, deployed to Parliament to roar and cow opponents into submission.” He added that Blancha’s roaring voice keeps the government on its toes, perhaps, through threats and intimidation. He further credits the legislator for doing what the opposition bench should do, holding the government to account by asking difficult questions. While he could be raising serious questions on matters of governance and accountability, “he has a notorious distinction of being overly dramatic, and he seems to derive so much pleasure in playing to the gallery”. In terms of calibre, he has a strong presence in Parliament and is making waves with his advocacy work. His contributions to both the National Assembly and his style of interrogating accounting officers at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have attracted public attention. He shouts, banging on the tables incessantly, rarely giving them a chance to respond to his questions. He is so aggressive and dismissive of his critics. Mabeo’s approach has sparked some debate.
His outspoken style and criticism of government projects, such as the Bonno Housing Scheme, have ruffled some feathers in Parliament. Some see him as a bold advocate for his constituents, while others might view his tactics as confrontational. Has a certain “tell it like it is” vibe, which can be refreshing or divisive, depending on who you ask. What do you think about his approach? Typical of him, Blancha recently attacked Minister of Water and Human Settlements, Onneetse Ramogapi, for his style of suits, which he said was ugly and like a box. He would then attack Ramogapi for the ‘failed’ Bonno Housing Scheme, claiming he was not shocked about that state of affairs because the Minister’s fashion sense was a “disaster and could not help him even a bit to deliver on his mandate”. This was indeed weird, attaching the Minister’s fashion sense to his delivery.
Whilst he later withdrew the matter, Blancha had made fun of the Minister. Mabeo has got a bit of a spicy reputation. He is known for speaking his mind, sometimes in ways that get other MPs hackled up. There was a notable exchange where he opposed a government project, calling it “daylight robbery”. It didn’t exactly win him any favours with the ruling party. He’s not afraid to call out what he sees as wrong, even if it means ruffling some feathers. That kind of straight-shooting style can make for lively debates. Mabeo is a politician-cum-communications practitioner. He is serving in the 13th Parliament after winning the 2024 General Election.
The legislator holds an MSC in Strategic Management from the University of Derby and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa. He began his career as a journalist for the State-owned Botswana Press Agency (BOPA) before moving into public relations roles for various government ministries and the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC). He worked for the UNDP and previously worked for the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM), a regional organisation specialising in water projects.
In 2019, Mabeo first contested the Gamalete parliamentary seat under the Alliance for Progressives ticket but was unsuccessful. Following the 2019 polls, he joined the BCP, which has proven to be a stable political home for him. In 2024, he won the BCP primaries and subsequently won the seat. He serves as a vocal member of the PAC, focusing on accountability and the proper use of public funds. He has advocated for turning the Gamalete region into a piggery hub to boost local economic development.
In early 2026, he was noted for challenging the government over the promised financial developments under the current administration. Mabeo has been urging the government to prioritise investment and development in Gamalete, citing its proximity to the capital as a prime location for manufacturing and economic growth. He’s also been active in advocating for youth empowerment programmes and student allowances.
He has been advocating for several key issues in Parliament. He believes Gamalete has the potential for major investments, given its land, raw materials, and skilled labour. He wants the government to ban pork imports to boost local production and assist farmers with access to boreholes for underground water. He has also proposed tarring the road from Ramotswa to Mothubakwane as an alternative route to the A1 road. Mabeo has been aggressively pushing for the UDC government to fulfil its promise to increase the tertiary students’ allowance to P2500, as the government committed to in its campaign manifesto.
A promise that the UDC government delivered recently when the students petitioned the Minister for Higher Education, Prince Maele. Mabeo has also been consistent in opposing the government giving investors land for free for the Bonno Housing Scheme, and this matter recently sparked a heated exchange in Parliament.