Nyeku: From BDF to council
Ryder Gabathuse | Wednesday May 25, 2016 16:51
Although he had relatives and friends who were into politics, it never crossed his mind that one day he would adorn political colours at freedom squares soliciting for votes. From his school days at Maitengwe Primary School, Nyeku who was a fast runner, maintained his dream of joining the army so that he could defend the nation.
The dream never changed as even during his heydays at Moses Mengwe Junior Secondary School and at Tutume McConnell Senior Secondary School, the former 800-metre sprinter and volleyball player held onto his dream.
“I grew up wishing to be a member of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), which I joined in 2001 till 2011 when I quit the service,” explains Nyeku who Monday this week was sworn in as a councillor for Phillip Matante East ward.
He won a recent by-election, which was occasioned by the death of his senior brother, Shadreck Nyeku.
Uyapo quit the army because the working conditions were no longer conducive for him to continue serving.
“The amount of work did not commensurate with the salary that I was paid. I was in the military police attached at the state house providing VIP, presidential and Bank of Botswana escort,” he reminisces.
As a way of settling and resuming his civilian life after a decade in the army, Uyapo started operating a combi, which plied the cross border route, transporting people to neighbouring South Africa and other routes. His route has mainly been Francistown-Jo’burg and Francistown-Pretoria.
His political interest was ignited by what he saw his late brother, Shadreck engaged in.
Sometime in 2011, he saw himself moving around with his late brother on his political assignments and he got interested in the political game.
Shadreck would introduce his younger brother to his constituents and party colleagues wherever they went.
“As I was living with my elder brother, he patiently turned my mind around and took me through the paces of the political game. He taught me all the basics of winning the hearts and minds of the people,” he explains.
During the 2014 general elections, Uyapo was part of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) campaign team in the Francistown South constituency as one of the leading campaign members. His party Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) is in a tripartite alliance with the Botswana National Front (BNF) and the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP).
He was in both the parliamentary and council campaign teams and this platform gave Uyapo more exposure in the art of politicking.
He vividly remembers November 2014 after his late brother’s victory. Shadreck called him to his house in the presence of his (Shadreck’s) wife, Batshani Nyeku and informed him that come 2019 he would not contest his seat.
The late Shadreck urged his younger brother to take over from him as he was convinced that he was now ready. “My response was that I preferred Phillip Matante West where we have a family house, which I am currently occupying.”
But, Shadreck was insistent that I should remain at Phillip Matante East and in the subsequent party meetings and activities, my late brother would introduce me to other comrades.
“Because I was well connected in the constituency because of my late brother, some party elders approached me and promised me their undying support during the party primaries and ultimately the by-election,” he says, indicating that true to the people’s support they stood by his side. The new councillor says he has sat down with the people of Block Four and Five and their wish is that he should help them combat unemployment, which encourages the young people to be involved in crime.
Uyapo is set to speak against poor roads and poor sewerage infrastructure in his area so that the people can enjoy access to services.
A majority of the residents of Phillip Matante East are the working class who make informed choices and know their rights. “What I can tell you is that the area MP Wynter Mmolotsi and the residents are like family members. They are close to each other. Every weekend our MP is with the constituents unless he is out of the country on assignments.” Uyapo has promised to work closely with the constituents as he remains indebted to them because of their continued support.
The councillor has promised that he and his MP are in the process of playing football with the constituents as a way of cementing relations. During the by-election campaigns, it was the party strategy that Uyapo should not make a lot of noise at the freedom squares but instead only appear praying for people’s votes. Uyapo is not married and is still searching. He insists that his future wife should be born-again and God-fearing. He fellowships at the UCCSA church and often times frequents ECG of Prophet Shepherd Bushiri in Pretoria, SA.