Motswaledi and his last dance

Chakalisa Dube | Friday August 1, 2014 15:42

 

But one thing that set Gomolemo Motswaledi apart from the other leaders, be it his comrades at the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) or his BDP nemesis, Ian Khama, was that he could only reluctantly sway his body to music.

But at the climax of the maiden UDC conference in Serowe over the President Holidays, Sir G was in his element as he twisted his legs and gestured with his outstretched arms to a party tune wafting from a CD player.

The song went melodiously, “Fa UDC ele teng ga a yo mathata” and there he was on stage to cheers from his comrades who included UDC president Duma Boko, Motlatsi Molapise and others.

Certainly, Motswaledi was taken too soon when he died in a tragic road accident on Wednesday morning en-route from South Africa, but at least the man who was popularly known by the epithet Sir G was happy in the last days of his life.  Just a week before the crash Motswaledi exhibited another side of himself, which he has never shown before during political activities.

In his lifetime he was an undisputed gifted speaker, but Motswaledi surprised many when he took to the stage to dance with the energy of a teenager.

Other leaders in Boko and Molapise followed him to the stage to a standing ovation from onlookers.

Afterwards he delivered the conference resolutions, which to sum up, were a clear declaration that UDC is in serious business. The party used the occasion to prepare for the UDC debut elections later this year.

“The successful maiden conference is a sign that the umbrella is in the right direction. When I see happy faces it shows that the umbrella is taking good shape,” Motswaledi said moments after the dance.

It turned out to be the last and best dance and speech at such a gathering from the Serowe-born politician.

He was expected to take on Botswana Congress Party (BCP) president, Dumelang Saleshando, BDP’s Rupert Hambira and DJ Sid aka Sidney Baitsile as an independent candidate at the October general elections.

Rest in Peace Mokaulengwe Sir G.