Kokorwe wants to be Speaker
Bame Piet | Friday June 27, 2014 16:38
It all started with a journey to Lobatse Town Council in 1972, only to stay there for the next six years when she was transferred on promotion to become Assistant Council Secretary of the Kgatleng District Council.
When she graduated with a Diploma in Public Management from the University of Connecticut in the United States of America, she was appointed Principal Personnel Officer (Training) in the Botswana Unified Local Government Service, a position she held until 1987 when she was transferred to the Francistown Town Council as Deputy Town Clerk. In 1990, Kokorwe was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Sowa Town in the Central District until 1992 when she was transferred to Gaborone City Council as Town Clerk. The death of vice President Peter Mmusi in 1994 sparked controversy when Kokorwe was availed as the candidate for Botswana Democratic Party in the Kweneng South constituency (now Thamaga-Kumakwane) after losing the by-election to Kabo Morwaeng.
“There was a lot of attention around Thamaga at that time and I had a lot of support. I resigned the position to stand for the MP position. I had interest in politics because I grew up in a family where politics were part of life. My father worked in council for many years. I had always had interest in politics, because there were many meetings of politicians convened at home, so I was preparing tea for them, and listened to their conversations until I developed interest.”
Kokorwe still remembers the day she took oath as Member of Parliament, on November 20th, which is also her birthday.
“That was the best moment of my life. My constituents came in large numbers to witness my taking of oath.” But the political office was not smooth sailing especially after she was appointed Minister of Local Government at the time of the controversial relocation of Basarwa from the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR) in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Her first time in the dock was when she was testifying against Roy Sesana, the leader of Basarwa who challenged their relocation at Lobatse High Court. The case, which lasted for more than five years, was concluded in November 2006, when the High Court ruled that the applicants (Basarwa) were free to enter the CKGR, and that government was not obliged to provide them with water. She was later appointed Minister of Youth Sport and Culture from 2008-2009, replacing Major General Moeng Pheto.
But the politician with the love for farming went into politics with a mission, to serve three terms (15 years) and leave to do other things. She did exactly that and at the end of the three terms in 2009, she called it quits. She did not stand for the BDP primary elections, automatically forfeiting her chances to stand in the national elections.
Kokorwe still can’t understand why there is a huge number of independent candidates for both council and Parliament, who will be contesting in the general elections. The number for independent parliamentary candidates stands at 22, whilst for councillors stands at over 200, majority of whom are veterans from the ruling party who feel they were cheated by the system.
She is of the view that politics should be for public service and one should depart when they have served. It would however seem that others do not take kindly to losing. Although she is not comfortable discussing the current internal fights in the BDP, she is not very happy at the state of affairs. “Of course there may be situations where people were cheated, but there are times when one should just accept and move on, support others or totally quit.” Her last assignment was a diplomatic post as Botswana’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe from 2009, the time when relations between the two countries were at their lowest following Zimbabwe’s 2008 controversial elections. The Botswana government differed with the SADC region on the outcome and refused to recognise Robert Mugabe as the legitimate president. For more than 12 months the two countries exchanged accusations, to the point when Zimbabwe accused Botswana of hosting or training soldiers for the opposition MDC to topple Mugabe.
She says her reception, as Botswana’s Ambassador at Mugabe’s office was extraordinary.
Just a few months into her office, in February 2010, four Batswana wildlife officers were arrested in Zimbabwe and charged with smuggling a motor vehicle into the country, and possession of ammunition of war without a licence. The officers were on patrol near Lesoma village in the Chobe district and accidentally crossed into the neighbouring country as the border fence between the two countries was in bad state.
They were tried at Hwange Magistrate Court and a month later they were fined 100 USD and given back their vehicle, and the gun.
“This was a minor case that could have been resolved amicably if the two countries were in good relations. Because of that tension, the officers were detained for close to a month and it was hectic as their welfare was our responsibility. I had to run between Harare and Hwange.”
Thankfully for her, “the resuscitation of the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) eased the tensions and we started meetings”.
Zimbabwe hosted the first JPC meeting on defence and security at Victoria Falls where tension could be felt across the conference room for the first few minutes. “However, after a while, that tension died and we started meeting each other. There were subsequent misunderstandings that were resolved diplomatically.
After several meetings with Mugabe, Kokorwe is convinced that the ageing statesman has a good heart. “Ke Motsadi, o na le nako le batho, o lerato (He is fatherly, he has time for others, he is loving).”
Kokorwe’s stay in Zimbabwe taught her that even war veterans are in charge of the country and demand recognition and wield a lot of influence.
The former MP was surprised to learn from the press of recent arrests of journalists in Zimbabwe, and that there was an exchange of words between Mugabe and Information Minister Jonathan Moyo. “I also learned that from media reports, but when I left the media was free and journalists were free to write whatever they wanted. However, unlike here, in Zimbabwe you cannot see the face of opposition politicians on national television. Never. It’s like a taboo. You will not see Tsvangirai on TV.”
Despite that, the opposition leader has the privilege of convening meetings with foreign dignitaries to communicate his challenges. “We have met Tsvangirai on several occasions because he holds meetings with diplomats and shares with them his challenges with the government.”
Is it true that Kokorwe is interested in the post of Speaker of Parliament?
“That one, …yes, I’m here. When that time comes I will make it known but I’m interested. So far I’m sure I have interest. I enjoy chairing debates, something that I started when we established Sowa Township in 1992. I was the first chairperson/mayor and I enjoyed the debates. Even at the time when I was deputy Speaker, colleagues always told me that I was doing well. I liked and enjoyed it as deputy speaker.”