Boko leaves Molepolole in wonderment
Staff Writer | Monday October 20, 2014 17:17
Under normal circumstances party presidents do not attend council candidates’ rallies but it is easy to understand why Boko would attend Arafat Khan’s. The Borakalo Ward council candidate is the Botswana National Front’s Secretary General for Youth and is one of the most trusted and committed BNF foot soldiers and is a friend of Bokos. Perhaps most importantly though, he attended because the ward, is the winnable constituency of Molepolole North where BNF long-time trooper Mahommed Khan is contesting the parliamentary seat once again.
Arafat was at the tail end of his speech whereby he urged the voter to bring credible change by voting for him and his party when Boko arrived.
The blue helicopter appeared a few seconds later and hovered over the freedom square, sending the UDC faithful into frenzy. Khan had to suspend his speech as the supporters ran towards Borakalalo primary school grounds where the chopper landed. Scores of residents who were not at the the rally came out of their homes to see the aircraft.
A white Toyota Land-Cruiser Prado was already waiting. Two men – apparently Boko’s security – escorted him to the white Prado, presidential style. The over-excited supporters met the Prado on the way and made a U-turn to the freedom square. Then, they burst into song and dance as they ushered the UDC president into the Freedom Square. Mohammed Khan, the Parliamentary candidate had the honour of welcoming Boko and stating his party’s concerns.
“With over 70 000 people Molepolole still does not have a single fire engine. In this area we have talc; we want to make chalk; we want to make tile groth; we want to make crack filler and create jobs for our people,” he said.
Khan also decried what he said was the BDP’s failure to see beyond the Ipelegeng programme, which he said could only perpetuate poverty.
When he went up the podium Boko burst into his now trademark song,
“ Le simolotse ka difonanyana le simolotse/le dira dionyana tsa Omega/malatlha akae bakaulengwe/malatha a kae?”
The song is a jibe at the BDP for its policy of supplying Ipelegeng workers with Fona, a reconstituted drink mix and giving elderly people cheap Omega radios “set to only radio Botswana”, and which can’t function once the batteries are used up because the elderly cannot afford the batteries.
“Civil servants have sent me here to tell you to keep to the race; they say it is up to you to finish. They have voted to stop Ipelegeng to bring about a serious government that will bring jobs; a government that will bring proper education,…”
As he came to the end of his speech the white Prado reversed towards the stage, the two bodyguards, ever eagle eyed. He waved goodbye to his party faithful and announced he was off to Molapowabojang. At the grounds where the chopper had landed nearly a hundred children and several dozen adults surrounded the aircraft and chirped in excitement. He took a few minutes to greet and lift some of the children before his chopper blew up a mighty dust, and took off to Molapowabojang, leaving the humble residents of Borakalalo in wonderment.
Back at the rally, South African musician Patricia Majalisa and Sechaba drove the BNF leader’s message home.