The return of the prodigal son

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Friday August 13, 2010 00:00

 

Politicians are quite a tricky lot,' says one villager in Shoshong on the way to the community hall where the BDP was gathered to receive a prodigal son. Shoshong MP, Phillip Makgalemele, in a yo-yo like move, left and returned to the BDP in the blink of an eye.

Outside the hall, some opposition activists discussed how Makgalemle's flip-flop created a great opportunity for them to win the constituency.

One proposed that they capitalise on the mistrust that exists in the hearts of BDP people and prepare to usurp the constituency.  Like vultures circling around a weakened prey, the opposition is surely moving for what it thinks will be a kill. Shoshong BNF candidate for the 2009 election, Aubrey Lesaso, must be smelling blood as he also edges into the BDP meeting place.

However, he does not go inside the hall. He pumps some hands and hugs people and engages in some banter, cracking a smile and some laughter.

Some local critics reveal that the vice-president and Mahalapye West MP, Momapti Merafhe and Tshireletso of Mahalapye East had met with BDP members after Makgalemele ditched their party, where they called him names for defecting.

As if she overheard them, inside the meeting, Tshireletso confirms it:

'We were hurt. Rothe re ne re utule bothoko. He had left without even saying good bye to me. I used a very strong language, words that I will not repeat. O rile o ya ko partying e nngwe ya bo-Splash le bo-Slyzer,' says Tshireletso before the audience in the community hall. It took quite some time for the BDP delegation from Gaborone to arrive at the fully packed hall with people mostly dressed in red; an excited crowd of young and old, looking expectant.

Suddenly, the delegation, led by Isaac Seloko, member of central committee responsible for SHOMA (Shoshong-Mahalapye) region, with executive secretary, Comma Serema, Tshireletso and Bernard Bolele, a member of the BDP strategy team, arrives.

With them is Makgalemele himself, accompanied by his close friends; MP Prince Maele and councillor, Mpho Moruakgomo, the ones who are credited for bringing him back from 'enemy hands'.

When they came into the hall, a mass body of red bursts up in slogans and songs. It takes a lot of 'A e jeke's' from the master of ceremonies to get them seated to listen to speeches.  Tshireletso is on the floor explaining how they agonised over Makgalemle's loss until some Shoshong members decided to find ways of getting back their MP from the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD).

She tells how it was agreed to petition Speaker of Parliament, Margaret Nasha, against Makgalemele's defection to BMD.

'Today the delegates of petitioners were supposed to meet President Ian Khama, at his office. So when Philip told me he was coming back and that 'ke ne kere ke a go ikemela, go padile' I felt like I was dreaming.

'In Parliament, I used to look at him with hatred, so gompieno ka re morwa sesinyi boela gae,' she says. She dismisses talk that a paltry 200 people signed the petition. 'The truth is that 3,606 people signed it. I mean Shoshong people from all the seven wards. Mosolotshane Ward did not partake,' she says. Maele, whom some critics credit for brokering the deal that saw his friend and confidante not only ditching the BMD, but also emerging P1.5 million richer with a franchise for a chain store supermarket in Shoshong, takes the stand.

He tells the crowd how he lured Makgalemele back, saying his friend Phillip is no cheap soul who can be purchased, not even for P1.5 million, a franchise and even a cabinet post as some have alleged.

'He knew that by going to BMD he went against the will and wish of his wife, children, his trusted friends and the Shoshong constituency. Because of this he was not at peace with himself, hence it was easy for me and Moruakgomo to get him back to BDP,' says Maele. 'He told me that 20 minutes after resigning from the BDP, he never was at peace with himself,' amplifies Maele. 

Then he zones in to the most important aspect of the meeting; to plead with the BDP supporters to welcome back Makgalemele.  'He was worried about what people will say after his sojourn at the BMD. But we told him people will respect him especially for correcting his mistake well in time. He didn't take a lot of time to come back. So, here is your son, coming back for forgiveness and I know you are Christians who believe in forgiving and forgetting a wrong,' he adds. Then comes the man himself. He looks at the crowd, and then tells them he does not know how to begin his speech.

'I have been living a stressful life. Le Shoshong ke ne ke mo tshaba. I couldn't even come to attend funerals that affected me. I came back because I had you democrats in ¼my mind all the time, especially most of you who were a part of my life. Those I used to talk to. My family and kids, especially Amantle, who once sang a song that moved me and hurt me; the song 'Ke rata domi, domi fela',' he says and leads the crowd as they sing the song. In a spirit of song and ululations, a marriage of sorts takes place, Makgalemele and the crowd come together as they harp the song.

The song that brought the father back to the BDP seemed to be completing the process of uniting MP and party faithful.

Has he really been received back?'We have been embarrassed by his defection. People were laughing at us. Our detractors said this is the end of BDP rule. From now onwards if anyone was to be hit by a demon and feels like defecting to another party, please consult your BDP friends before you just bolt as Makgalemele did here,' says one old man.

Before sitting down he strikes on the crucial: trust.

'We will not trust you easily. Some of us might even think you have been sent by the BMD to spy on us. So you are going to work hard to earn the trust that you used to enjoy from the BDP here,' he says to murmurs of approval. Others also take the microphone and reiterate that it will be difficult to trust him. One old man expresses concern that the Shoshong parliamentary office is full of officers who are members of the BMD.

'We want to use that office to discuss BDP issues and want to be sure that our secrets are not filtered to that party. You should do something about it, and then we will not look at you in askance,' he says.

Former national assembly speaker, Ray Molomo, a member of the BDP Council of Elders tells the crowd he will tell the president that they received their MP with love, but at the same time he implored Makgalemele to go and support the bill that disallows MPs from crossing the floor with their seats.  Meanwhile branch chairman, Mogotsi Mogotsi, told the legislator that they expect their representative to consult with them on decisions he makes and most importantly, 'to work well with our party president because after all we support our president and expect our representative to do likewise. If you have a problem with him, you must tell us and we will talk about it,' he advised.

Soon it was dark and the cold that the hilly Shoshong is known for took over the atmosphere. Proceedings came to an end and after more hugs and palm pumping, the crowd fizzled out as everyone went home.

Makgalemele is back at the BDP, but the question is will he be able to win their support and win the 2013 BDP primaries? Perhaps this is a question that the legislator would prefer to ponder later in time as he snuggles back into the BDP fold.