The Sir G I knew
| Monday August 4, 2014 17:11
It is here where I met Gomolemo Thatayaone Motswaledi in the year 1991. He was then the Vice Secretary of GS26.
My classmate Thuto Tumeletso and I met him along the UB corridors. In his ever-flowing exuberance, he engaged us on party politics and affiliation.
Upon confirming that we were Domkrag sympathisers but not card carrying, he immediately organised membership cards. I have been a BDP card-carrying member since then.
Fast forward to year 2000. Preparations for the BDP National Youth Congress in Tonota were at an advanced stage and battle lines drawn for the Committee elections.
I was privileged to be elected National Political Officer and that marked the beginning of my close association with Sir G, deputising him for the Chairmanship from 2002 to 2004, in a committee that included among others Kavis Kario, Bernard Bolele, Nixon Marumoloa, Atamelang Thaga, Kentse Rammidi, Fire Molelo, Gakologelwang Bethia and others.
A committee Sir G led so well, and very unforgiving on flippant committee members.
We had a wonderful relationship and shared a lot on what we had in common. Towards the end of our term as youth leaders we agreed that we needed to continue our activism within party structures.
Regional structures were our next move. A few years later we were both elected chairpersons for Francistown and Gaborone BDP regions, respectively. Sir G was nevertheless at a different level and I don’t by any measure purport to have been at his level. He was fearless, with such voracious determination, driven by miraculous energy. He was in a different league from a multitude of us.
Gomolemo had a heart of an angel. He had an amazing ability to create time for all he considered friends. I remember fondly and with razor sharp memory, how he stood by me and my family in 2003 when we lost our two little boys in a car accident. He was by my side the whole mourning week and went on to co-direct funeral proceedings.
He was a great comforter. The following year, he created yet more time and directed proceedings at my wedding. I will forever remain beholden to this amazing son of RraGomolemo.
We differed at times and the most notable political difference was at a time he co-formed the BMD and I remained in the BDP. But we remained close friends.
He was magnanimous. I had not seen Sir G in person for a while and when we finally met, just four days before his demise, he bellowed with such magniloquence, “Dumela Mmusi” and I responded “Dumela Moganetsi”, to the amusement of petrol attendants and his admirers at Maruapula filling station. I observed as onlookers turned heads to catch a glimpse of the towering smartly dressed figure. Everywhere he went his presence was felt. He greeted my five-year-old son, who proudly told him he was in Standard 4, in response to Sir G’s question. “God is amazing’’ he said, ‘’he has given you back’’.
He swiftly changed the subject and our conversation quickly moved into our common attraction.
“You must attend my launch,” he quipped. “Seriously, I want all my friends to attend the launch, which will be at the usual place here in Maruapula’’.
I promised that I would attend, wished him luck and said my good byes, as he did another check around his car and shoved the petrol attended to hurry. He was on his way to Tsabong to launch John Toto. By the time I came out of the convenience shop, he had driven off. That was the last time I saw Sir G.
Only God The Almighty knew that he was on his last lap.
I had to overcome a heavy bout of denial when I learnt he was gone. However, like multitudes of Batswana and others across borders, I have come to accept with a heavy heart that indeed Sir G is no more. What an amazingly gifted and selfless gentleman, a stalwart. What a journey. May his Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.
* The author is the BDP Chairperson, Tati East Branch