Ntsima: Using politics as a vehicle to convalesce people’s lives
Ryder Gabathuse | Monday May 25, 2026 15:32
Ntsima believes it was his sojourn at varsity that honed his interest in public affairs, leadership and social justice. At Parliament, reports quote him as calm, factual, and avoiding combative language. But, beneath tranquillity and unobtrusiveness lies a robust and erudite debater. “My biggest influence in politics was the conviction that politics must be used as a vehicle to improve people’s lives, especially young people, entrepreneurs and ordinary communities who often feel left out of decision-making,” he tells Mmegi. His later work with civil society, youth organisations and community development deepened that calling. His private-sector and consultancy experience helped him grasp the practical challenges faced by businesses: compliance, company registration, governance, finance, market access, and strategy. As a senior business consultant at Brandbucket Investments, he worked closely with clients on company registration, strategy, marketing and company secretarial work.
It was, in fact, that experience that shaped his credence that government must make it easier, not harder, for citizens to start, establish, and grow businesses. Being part of the 13th Parliament has given Ntsima a sturdier platform to serve Francistown East and Botswana at large. “I now have the opportunity to raise constituency issues nationally while also contributing to policy reforms as Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship. I currently serve as both Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship and Member of Parliament for Francistown East,” illuminated Ntsima. Articulating the strength of his primary political home, the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), he traces it to “presence, history, humility and consistent engagement”. He is steadfast that Francistown has always been politically conscious, and the BPP has deep roots in the area. “Under the UDC, people saw a credible alternative that spoke to jobs, dignity, accountability and change. The 2024 General Election results showed that residents wanted a new direction after many years of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) dominance in the constituency.” He is upbeat that even if President Duma Boko could call elections tomorrow, he and his party will win. “Yes, I believe we can win, but not because we take voters for granted.
Elections are won every day through service, visibility, honesty and delivery. My duty is to keep working, listening and ensuring that the people of Francistown East see tangible value in the mandate they gave me.” As a young man growing up in his home village, the 45-year-old legislator was drawn to leadership, public service and community work. He also had a strong interest in arts and sport, especially dance sport, which taught him discipline, teamwork and confidence. Before becoming MP, Ntsima served in BPP structures, including leadership roles as party secretary-general. His day as a politician in Parliament and the Cabinet usually commences early, with briefings, constituency messages, ministry matters, and parliamentary work. He tries to balance three roles: Being an MP, a Cabinet Minister and a political activist. Cabinet work requires policy leadership and national coordination; Parliament requires legislative accountability; constituency work requires availability and direct engagement with people. The balance is demanding, he pronounces, “but it is possible with discipline, teamwork and clear priorities”. His political journey has evolved across different political formations within the opposition movement. He started his active partisan politics in the Botswana Movement Democracy (BMD), where he was involved in party activities and grassroots mobilisation. In 2019, following the developments that led to the BMD exiting the UDC, “those of us who were candidates were given an option to continue representing the UDC, and I chose to remain within the coalition framework”. By his own admission, later in 2019, ahead of the General Election, he joined the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and contested the Francistown-South constituency parliamentary elections and lost. His political journey continued to evolve, and in 2021 he joined the BPP, which became his political home within the UDC coalition, where he further deepened his political involvement and commitment to public service. “Like in many political journeys, there have also been moments of challenge and transition.
In 2025, I was expelled from the BPP, an experience that reinforced my belief that politics must ultimately be about service to the people, principle and purpose rather than position.” Throughout these transitions, Ntsima’s focus has remained on serving communities, advancing development and contributing meaningfully to Botswana’s democratic growth. The legislator maintains an open-door relationship with constituents. He believes an MP must be accessible, not only during elections but throughout the term. He works with councillors across wards and believes that development should not be blocked by party differences. “Where there are opposition councillors, I relate to them with respect because the people’s needs must come before partisan competition.” Leaders inspired Ntsima into politics and activists who treated politics as service rather than status. Student activism, civil society work and community struggles all shaped his decision to enter active partisan politics. His role models are people who combine courage with humility: leaders who stand firm on principle but remain grounded among ordinary people. He admires leaders who build institutions, empower others and leave communities stronger than they found them. His first role model is his father, Solomon Thebe Ntsima, whom he addresses as a philosopher whose wisdom, values and outlook on life greatly shaped his thinking and character. “I also draw inspiration from the President of the Republic of Botswana, President Duma Boko, for his leadership, resilience and commitment to transformational governance.” To Ntsima, politics is not only about holding office. In many families, he posits, including his, political consciousness comes through discussions about justice, fairness, hard work and community responsibility. “That environment shaped my values. I am blessed with the support of my wife, Botlhe Ntsima, whose encouragement and strength have been invaluable, as well as our two boys, Nqobile and Mthobeli, who constantly remind me of the importance of building a better future for the next generation,” he declares.
Outside politics, Ntsima has a strong interest in dance sport, arts, youth development, entrepreneurship and community empowerment. He has served as president of the Botswana Dance Sport Association and also held roles in regional and continental Dance Sport structures. Major issues bedevilling Francistown-East constituency include unemployment, youth economic exclusion, pressure on small businesses, infrastructure gaps, social challenges, and the need to reposition Francistown as Botswana’s true second city. Ntsima’s focus has been to advocate for investment, enterprise development, better service delivery, youth opportunities, and stronger linkages between national programmes and local needs as a remedy to the troubles in his constituency. Assistant Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Justin Hunyepa has worked more closely with Ntsima in the 2019 General Election during a very exciting and defining period in Botswana politics. One of the highlights was when Hunyepa partially launched Ntsima’s campaign when he stood for Francistown South constituency.
“At the time, the Alliance for Progressives had pulled out of the UDC, and the UDC leadership assigned me to spearhead a series of mini-launches through the famous inaugural “Sekhukhu Tour” up North to South,” explains Hunyepa, also Tati West legislator. The tour began in Chobe, Kasane, where Hunyepa led UDC activists in a branded campaign truck filled with music, energy, and performances by local artists. From there, “we travelled across the northern constituencies through Francistown, Palapye, Bobirwa, Tswapong, Kgatleng, and finally Gaborone, spreading the UDC message and mobilising supporters.” It was in Francistown South where Hunyepa says Ntsima truly demonstrated his courage and political boldness. According to legislator Hunyepa, Ntsima fearlessly took on the then incumbent, who is now the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Wynter Mmolotsi. In one memorable address, Ntsima famously declared that while Mmolotsi relied on an AK-47, he was a deadly long-range missile and will destroy Mmolotsi. His confidence, charisma, and command of the platform left a lasting and positive impression on many. Hunyepa describes Ntsima as a visionary and highly focused gentleman. “He successfully calmed the storm at one of the country’s most controversial State- Owned Enterprises, CEDA, soon after assuming ministerial office. Considering that his ministry oversees around ten SOEs, one can only admire how he manages such demanding responsibilities.” The impression Hunyepa has about his colleague is that Ntsima remains a valuable asset to the Botswana People’s Party and UDC, despite having had to navigate a few administrative challenges within the party. “Without doubt, Ntsima has a bright and promising future in Botswana politics,” he observed. To those in the know at the ministerial level, Ntsima has been active on policy reform and investment promotion since taking over.
Here are some of the key initiatives he has presented in Parliament: l In March 2026, he requested P1.5bn for the 2026/27 budget season. He outlined plans for a “regulatory guillotine” to cut outdated regulations and reduce business costs, as well as reviews of the Trade Act, Liquor Act, Gambling Act, and Cooperative Societies Act. l He announced a shift from profit-based to cost-based incentives targeting renewable energy, manufacturing, and services. He also pushed a new Investment Law and revised the National Investment Strategy to increase FDI, l He allocated P40m for a homegrown Company Registration System. He launched the Botswana Trade Commission Online Permit Management System, calling digital tech a “catalyst for growth”. l Reported 41,869 enterprises funded, with 73% operational and 34,731 jobs created under the wealth creation programme l In April 2026, he detailed Botswana’s FDI approach in Parliament, citing the Industrial Development Policy, Trade Policy, and institutions like SEZA, BITC, and BDC. BITC facilitated P27.187bn in investments and 26,904 jobs from 2018 to 2024. l He has maintained that school uniform production remains reserved for citizens under the Industrial Development Act 2019, and pushed enforcement against illegal imports. l Ntsima has also engaged regionally, speaking at the UN South-South Cooperation meeting in Turkmenistan in Aug 2025. l He noted U.S. tariffs on Botswana as a challenge in 2025/26, and admitted the P100, 000 Youth Development Fund allocation is insufficient for starting a business. At the parliamentary level, Ntsima has been responsive to constituency issues. He addressed development needs like stormwater drainage, internal roads, drug abuse, and youth unemployment. Overall, Ntsima’s focus has been on regulatory reform, reducing business costs, and shifting Botswana toward non-mineral exports and FDI. He has been presenting detailed legislative and policy updates in Parliament, rather than just broad statements. The tone in local reporting is that he is pushing for evidence-based reforms and cross-ministerial coordination. Based on available parliamentary records and reporting, Ntsima’s debate style so far comes across as policy-heavy, data-driven, and constituency-focused, with a few notable traits:
In debates, he connects trade policy to broader issues. He supported paternal leave in labour reforms as a way to align with global practices and promote family welfare. He also linked economic diplomacy to diaspora engagement. When responding to BCP’s accountability vows, he acknowledged financial challenges but pivoted to plans and transparency. During the alcohol levy debate, he pushed back against assumptions, arguing cancellation wouldn’t benefit consumers and emphasising protection of minors. His expulsion from the BPP and friction with former party members have spilled into public debate. BPP leaders called his behaviour “contemptuous” and questioned his hold on the Cabinet slot. Judged by policy command and preparedness, Ntsima scores well. He comes to debate with numbers, legal references, and specific programmes. If you judge by rhetorical flair and political theatre, he has been low-key. His debate quality so far is that of a technocrat minister, strong on substance, lighter on political performance. That fits his background in organisational development and project management. The Francistown-East legislator is also a family man. To him, family gives him balance, grounding and emotional strength. He concurs that public life is demanding, and therefore, one needs people who understand the pressure, encourage one and remind one why service matters. Ntsima’s family is an important pillar in that journey.