The Last Dance
| Monday August 25, 2014 17:56
However, in retrospect it appears Sir G had a calculated plan to step into the lion’s den. His leading of the UDC masses to Serowe, the citadel of the BDP and its leaders, was akin to Jesus’s last entry into Jerusalem. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was daring, bold and subversive in character. He knew that such action would put him on the spotlight and that it would upset those in power. Beneath his action was the strong indication that Caesar’s regime was an immoral canopy of oppression which one day God would overthrow. Jesus’ march into Jerusalem, hailed and accompanied by the poor, who were shouting his praises sent shivers down the spine of the imperial system. Although he had no weapons or financial resources to support his actions, he nevertheless had something that the Empire feared. He had the poor united behind him and he was fearless in his confrontation with the system of oppression.
One of the memorable things that Jesus did on this particular journey to Jerusalem was his confrontation with the captains of industry in the temple. The temple was a space for worship, for trading, for political machinations and for intellectual engagement. It is here that Jesus confronts the tenderpreneus of the time through his infamous cleansing of the temple. Clearly, his speech and actions threatened the manipulated obedience of the people to Caesar. So, out of a posture of defiant and subversive wisdom, Jesus speaks in categories of speech which animated the oppressed and lit a spark in their bellies that could not be put off through intimidation by the intelligent services. Even after his demise the movement grew like raging fire and neither imprisonment, nor oppression, nor torture, nor hunger, nor death could douse their struggle for justice and liberation.
When Sir G led the UDC into Serowe it was a calculated plan to poke the belly of the beast. He was daring and fearless and he wanted to take the struggle for change and the reclamation of Botswana from the periphery to the centre of power. He knew that over the years the BDP had perpetuated its political dominance by hoodwinking the Bangwato by their cult-allegiance to those in power. Political contestation would be anywhere else but not in Serowe the heartland of Domkrag. However, despite this myth Sir G did the unthinkable. Singing, dancing and laughing he led the UDC troops to the BDP stronghold. He knew very well that the place where the meeting was to be held would be awash with intelligence operatives. But this did not deter him. He had transcended fear, and perhaps like his Master and Lord, his soul would have said, ‘what good is it for a person to possess the whole world and yet forfeit their soul?’ His GDP was not calculated on pulas and dollars but on happiness and peace for all, derived from just relationships and just distribution of the resources of our nation.
Many say he was the happiest he had been in a long time. He was ecstatic and so full of hopeful determination. In his usual self he was lyrical and full of conscientious narrative. He dug deep into his cultural stockpile and fascinated the crowds with his lyrical dance. He was full of pathos, holy energy, and nothing could stop him. He did what our Caribbean friends call ‘chanting down Babylon’- the art of using song and poetry to expose, denounce and mobilise the people to rebel against life-denying systems.
The current government, like others that have lost touch with the people, use fear to try and keep people under control. Even those who are supposedly in the inner circle of the leadership of this country live in fear and often heap false praise on the President as a way of guarding their space. When the scriptures say ‘Fear not’ those who oppress God’s people say ‘be afraid…be very afraid.’ Motswaledi was not afraid. Although he is gone from us, he has been immortalised, there will be books, documentaries, monuments and all sorts of vestiges to keep his legacy alive. His last trip to Serowe was not only defiant but it was also a victory parade, the last dance.
* Rev Dr Prince Dibeela Is UDC MP candidate for Mmathethe-Molapowabojang Constituency