Condolences to Motswaledi

| Friday August 1, 2014 15:46

 

Khama: President Ian Khama earlier today sent a condolence message to the family of the late Gomolemo Motswaledi, expressing his sorrow on learning of the untimely passing of their son.

In the message he expressed his wish to convey to the entire Motswaledi family his heartfelt condolences and sympathies on their great loss, further noting that:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you go through these trying and difficult times. May his soul rest in peace.”

Mmolotsi: Sir G was a friend, brother and President. He knew exactly what he wanted in life. His was a life for the people. He loved people more than material posessions.

He was always smiling and would stretch his hand to greet everybody he met. At funerals or church his voice would mark his presence. A shrewd politician he was. He chaired the NEC as if the BMD was already in power. RIP brother

Saleshando: No words can explain the collective pain felt by the nation on the passing on of Gomolemo Motswaledi. He was without doubt one of the few that gave politics a good name. Politics is seen as a dirty and a game for those without dignity or honor. He had a role in bringing dignity to politics.

I first met him at UB during the student body meetings. He was my senior and I admired the calmness with which he made his contributions at the student meetings. At the time, he was a member of the BDP and I was a member of the BNF. Though on opposite sides of the political divide, we had mutual respect for each other. Our paths crossed many times over the years.

When he decided to contest for Gaborone Central in 2009, we had a side meeting arranged by his friend Ndaba Gaolathe, to informally agree on the rules of engagement. It was a short and constructive meeting as we both committed to a clean, issue based campaign with no room for personal attacks. The contest was never to be as he was suspended by the BDP leader. He went on to challenge the decision in court and I made it a point to attend all the court hearings to offer him my support, as in the words of Martin Luther King, “Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere.”

For me, it was during his court case that the greatness in him came through. It could not have been an easy decision for him to take his party leader to court. The day the judgement was read out, tears rolled down the faces of his supporters in Lobatse who had gone to listen to the verdict. In his normal calmness he addressed the crowd to assure them that all will be well and thanked all of us who had come to lend our support, particularly those of us who were non-BDP.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and party colleagues (more particularly his son Esi). Death is something we can never come to terms with, more especially when it captures a person that many of us looked up to, whether we agreed or disagreed with the views they held. Though you had the energy and compassion to change our society for the better, it is now time for you to rest my good friend. Farewell Gomolemo, we meet to part, sometimes prematurely...

Boko: Comrade Gomolemo Motswaledi and I understood fully well that this unfolding landscape confronts us with menace and calamity. He made the highest compact with this nation and was prepared to seal it with his life.

He was a true comrade. I saw in him a man of majestic virtues. There was an awesome orator in him; a man who stirred others to action. There was a priest in him who ministered with multitudes in the temple of humility. There was a musician in him, whose transcripts of harmony come back to all of us with haunting emphasis and reiteration.

There is only one way I know to mourn a fallen comrade. It is to intensify the struggle. To the cause for which he laid down his life I can only give my solemn pledge of allegiance. In the face of all the vexations and perplexities of the now I stand firm and undismayed.

To all our people I say, well it is for him who even through disappointments and tears recognises the guiding hand and clasps it firmly in faith.

Goodbye comrade. Goodbye my brother. Goodbye my dearest friend.

The UDC has opened an account for members of the public to make contributions for independent investigations into the cause of the accident. Gomolemo Motswaledi FNB Industrial Branch, Account No 62486805397, Branch Code 281667