Govt Rolls Red Carpet For BMD�s Thero Gaadingwe
Monkagedi Gaothobogwe | Monday February 8, 2016 15:27
Gaadingwe was found dead while on a training camp in preparation for the upcoming Gaborone marathon, in Kgomokasitwa last week. Relatives told mourners that the post-mortem results indicated he had heart complications.
In attendance were Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi and assistant Minister in the office of the President Phillip Makgalemele, among others.
The BMD vice president and MP for Francistown South Wynter Mmolotsi waxed lyrical about Gaadingwe’s amazing political significance and how hard he worked for the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) partner party.
According to Mmolotsi, Gaadingwe, who also ran a security company that won government tenders, worked for the BMD behind the scenes and often channelled funds to the Party. Mmolotsi also told of how Gaadingwe, who defected from the ruling Party during the split that gave birth to the BMD, would often summon the party leadership and share with them strategies for victory.
“He advocated for regime change, he sent us forth to achieve that agenda; he would fund our political activities secretly so that no one finds out, lest they stop giving him those tenders,” Mmolotsi said.
The MP ran short of suspecting foul play in the death of the BMD man, when he said that his Party had lost a second key member within a short period of time. “I’m starting to wonder whether the gods are taking only from our side, and not from the other side”
Assistant Minister Makgalemele had to calm emotions when he explained that government had always been aware that Gaadingwe was a BMD functionary and that he was funding the opposition party.
“I can assure you that no one is denied government tenders just because he is affiliated to the opposition; they are many like Thero Gaadingwe, in the opposition, who continue to enjoy government tenders despite their political affiliation; no one should fear anything, our government supports all Batswana businesses,” said Makgalemele.
Sitting quietly, for a service that ran three hours, was Masisi, as a BDP official Rev Rupert Hambira led the prayers, and another ruling party functionary and former GU official Kelesitse Gilika, spoke about Gaadingwe’s football prowess that was cut short by injuries.
Old friend Phadzha Butale shared fond memories of Gaadingwe as a BDP activist who used to host party meetings at his house.
He also gave the mourners a picture of a caring man who had adopted a poor child at Old Naledi and gave him the best care possible for many years. Butale, now a senior government official who once played alongside Gaadingwe in midfield from U-17, to national team, remembered how his friend once convinced him to buy a needy family a goat for relish as they used flavoured porridge with salt.
Gaadingwe’s brother described him as a passionate man who once hosted a workshop for high achieving secondary school students, at the Gaborone Sun, to inspire them to greatness.
Perhaps the most moving speech was delivered by Gaadingwe’s former youth coach Michael Spokes Gaborone who, noted that his group was the best ever to come out of Botswana. These included the legendary Diphetogo Selolwane, Noah Kareng, Barcos Mosimanegape, Seabo Gabanakgosi, Desmond Hambira, Valdo Mogomotsi, Innocent Ranku, Sox Molwantwa, Jiki Maimela, Masego Nchingane, Lebonyemang Temogo, Coach Mopako, Barnes Maplanka, Lentswe Chebane, among others. According to Gaborone, most members of this group also went on to be successful men in life.