The BNF is Ill advised to demonise James Mathokgwane
Correspondent | Monday June 29, 2015 15:37
I have observed with pain and anguish as comrades have gone all out to demonise James Mathokgwane and managed to build strong all kinds of conspiracy theories against him. Allegations that are coming from the BNF corner, including those that he has been bought by the highest bidder, cannot be left to go unchallenged and dismissed with the outmost contempt they deserve.
It is nonsensical to demonise Comrade James Mathokgwane for resigning from Parliament. It is even distasteful that such demonising is coming from the Botswana National Front, a party that Mathokgwane has served all his life. We cannot force people to continue serving the movement when they are no longer willing to continue in those positions either due to ill health, social pressures or availability of better paying jobs.
The behaviour of my fellow comrades fits that of a man who upon divorcing his wife all of a sudden see everything wrong about her despite the many years and the good they have had in their happy times. Such people are often referred to as bitter losers and we at the BNF are behaving exactly like that. Mathokgwane’s track record speaks for him.
He has led the University of Botswana section of the Botswana National Front and its Student Representative Council twice. In both instances he has made remarkable contribution to nation’s social democracy and upheld the BNF principles.
He was at one point suspended for more than two years at the University of Botswana serving a BNF agenda during the Segametsi Mogomotsi saga. No one, including the BNF assisted him through those times.
Comrade Mathokgwane has cited health as amongst the reasons that led to his resignation at the advice of his medical doctor. Comrades have instead opted to label him a traitor and a sell-out. Many have said before that politics is a thankless job that one is considered a hero only when one is sacrificing his time, energy and resources for those not willing to take the risk.
Mathokgwane wrestled the Goodhope-Mabule constituency from the Botswana Democratic Party, being the first opposition member of parliament for the area. We can’t pretend that here was any capable BNF cadre who could have done that. We all know that the constituency is BDP stronghold and Mathokgwane being a hard worker and a BNF determined activists went against the odds to win it from Minister Kitso Mokaila.
We must celebrate this and see the good that Comrade Mathokgwane has done for us. We now have hope of retaining the constituency simply because of him.
Often in politics we sacrifice our lives and the lives of our loved ones by denying our families the comforts and luxuries of careered and healthy parents. We often use family resources to advance the greater good of the society, rightfully so because we have chosen that path.
But it is also common the world over that there comes a time when political activists retire from active politics and enter their quite lives and enjoy their last remaining days in this life with their children and partners in peace and quietness. Mathokgwane is not an exception, he has played his part.
It has been through all demonising labels referred to Mathokgwane as having been bought by the ‘system’. This is said merely because Mathokgwane has landed a better paying job with a government parastatal (SPEDU).
Most of those saying such demonising things including the president of the Botswana National Front Comrade Gideon Duma Boko are mostly those who have by far the most comfortable lives. Most of these people are economically strong and with abundance of luxuries that they are able to provide for their families through many other means except from the modest salary that come with being a member of parliament or a councillor.
Comrade Mathokgwane has continued to explain that he is not resigning from the Botswana National Front and that he is merely resigning as a member of parliament. This makes and retains Mathokgwane a member of the BNF in good standing. Mathokgwane’s membership to the BNF, unlike that of Gideon Duma Boko which has been challenged even through the courts of law has always remained an inspiration to many young BNF cadres, myself included.
Lefoko Folks Dithebe