From street barber to councillor

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Friday August 6, 2010 00:00

During his secondary school days, Michael fell in love with law to the extent that he resolved to study it at the University of Botswana (UB) after completing his Cambridge Overseas School Certificate (COSC) examinations or Form Five.

He studied hard and from his 1999 class, he got a good second class.

'My aim has always been to become an attorney at law so that I could help people who always find themselves on the wrong side of the law,' says the loud-speaking Michael. He says he was raised by poor parents at a squatter settlement which was then called Kgaphamadi, where now sits Block-Six in the Phase Four Development Area, commonly known as Blocks.

'After careful thought and considering the situation at home, I opted to go search for a job when my peers proceeded to do their tertiary education. I wanted to feed my struggling family,' he reminisces.

He says he was in a family of eight children, before he lost a sister and a brother. He concedes that circumstances compelled him to mature at a very early age, as he had to take the responsibility of providing for his family.

At first he did a short course in painting, decorations and landscaping in South Africa hoping that he could become an artist of repute, but this did not work. This is despite the fact that the enterprising Michael later set-up his own company dealing in painting, decorations and landscaping. 'I did not work for my previous employer for a long time before I set-up my own thing along the same lines. It's this business which literally put bread on the table as I did a lot of work as a sub-contractor.' The realities of life taught the civic leader that the world is dynamic and not static and therefore, any opportunity that comes one's way should be taken seriously and exploited to the fullest. 'I used to sell jewellery before I tried my luck in the street barbershop as I had told myself that whatever could put bread on the table should be explored to the fullest,' he says. Michael used to cut and shape the heads of many people in the area around the E.T shopping complex in Block Eight. The barbershop business helped him reshape his life and at the same time generate the requisite funds to keep going. It is all these hardships that finally saw Michael's attention shifting to politics after he was convinced that he could articulate the needs of the people, now that he was armed with experience. He did not doubt his ability as an individual. His entry into politics proper was in 2003 when he became fully active in the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) politics in the Francistown South constituency. The first position he held in the constituency was chairperson of the party's youth. Ten years after leaving secondary school, Michael stood for the BDP primary elections in Ipopeng ward and won. He proceeded to capture the council seat in the general election.  He credits two men for helping his political career - Francistown South MP, Wynter Mmolotsi and Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) interim chairperson, Gomolemo Motswaledi.

'I must confess that when I ventured into politics, it never crossed my mind that one day I would be representing people like it is the case today. But, I knew through perseverance and application of the right tactics I would make it.' He says that while he was a staunch BDP member before he crossed the floor to the newly formed BMD, he used to follow both Mmolotsi and Motswaledi passionately wherever they addressed rallies, mostly in the northern part of the country. Because he was recruited into the BDP by a member of the Barata-Phathi faction, it follows that he became a member of the group just like Mmolotsi.

After defecting to the BMD, Michael has hope that the new party will not disappoint 'because we have not left hoi polloi behind.' He says those that have left the BDP for the BMD understand the gospel they preach and will not be intimidated by anything. 'At the BDP, we were muzzled and expected to swallow whatever was pushed down our throats. I can simply say that it is a fallacy to expect this to continue forever.' He adds that they were expected to address issues in a manner that they were not comfortable with as if they were not able to think for themselves.

'Even through our motions at council level, we were not expected to reflect the will of the people.  Through the party caucus and others, we were bound to behave as if we were representing the interest of the party and not that of the people.' As a civic leader for a ward that has so many challenges, he feels that it is upon him to ensure that services are brought to the people.

He bemoans that part of his ward at Block 7-10 has dark streets, which encourage criminals to wreak havoc in the evening. Lack of a drainage system causes the area to flood during the rainy season. Michael is worried about the number of youth who roam the streets due to unemployment, with some venturing into criminal activities. 'The authorities will have to watch carefully the development of squatters around my area as those who cannot afford modern houses tend to build temporary structures in back yards for a nominal fee.' He promises to wield his influence to ensure that the Francistown City Council (FCC) provides the right services to the people.

Michael declares humbly that nothing will ever influence him to forget his past and start behaving like one of the spoiled people from the city's suburbs. 'My life experience has taught me to work very hard and respect people for what they are. I will continue articulating the needs of the constituents as I live among them so that I can sharply respond to their needs as and when they call,' he points out.

He says lack of recreational facilities in his area has led a good number of youth to abuse alcohol.

'What can they do in their spare time? Do you think when they play games like snooker in bars they can escape the temptations of tasting alcohol?' wondered Michael.

He will continue advocating for the FCC to provide decent places where barbers can operate from. He says he will enroll with one of the institutions of learning and finally fulfil his dream of becoming a lawyer as he feels that he has matured. He says he has not allowed the challenges of life to harden his feelings against anyone including those that have failed him. The civic leader is still single but not looking as he is seeing someone. He is a staunch Christian and he spends time at church if he is not politicking.