When the rulers meet to bid another ruler farewell

| Friday February 19, 2010 00:00

Anyone who is anybody is either here, preparing to get here or regretting that they are not here to pay tribute to the man who, Never asked anybody for help but was generous' as his son would later remark.

 'Louis loved his country. He did for Botswana what some of us may never achieve. His success at Anglo American, De Beers and Debswana is known throughout. Louis Goodwill Nchindo, was a mover and shaker, and was the ultimate batsman for team Botswana,' Satar Dada would add.

Out there at the carpark be-suited clean-shaven and somewhat consciously mean-looking Directorate of Intelligence and Security agents look around. Traffic officers control cars moving into the Gaborone Central School sports ground now that the Anglican Cathedral carpark is already full.

Even from outside the architecture of the Anglican Cathedral screams Christianity, holiness. A tall imposing cross at the head of the building, rising above everything around it.

All types of cars purr into the car-park - a Black Range Rover here, a Jaguar there. Black suits. Elegant dresses, black. 'Mazabathi' shades. Shiny lipstick. Headshawls for older women.

And now earpieces in ears, the DIS boys prowl about, faces getting more serious with each passing minute, after all, President Ian Khama is also on his way.

At the front door young women stand looking out to the arriving guests. They hand out a programme pamphlet to each arrival. More young women walk around the hall, attending to this and that.

The cover has a photo of the man, staring out at the lense, part inquisitive but commanding a respect. He is clean-shaven. Black jacket, grey shirt, and a tie lined with shades of black and grey.

A logo hangs above everything followed by some lettering 'Memorial Service for' above the potrait. 'Louis Goodwill Nchindo - son, husband, father, friend, legend' reads the bottom part of the card, on Nchindo's chest.

At the bottom of everything - 'Officiant: Rt. Rev, Musonda TS Mwamba, DD, Bishop of Botswana'

Inside the glossy pamphlet is a montage of Nchindo at different stages in his life - He holds Andrea's shoulder standing against a forest background, dressed casually, smile wide. He sits at some function, dressed in formal attire the top of a wine bottle in view, smile wide. He sits inside a plane, a sleeping baby on his lap. He tenderly stares at the baby.

Inside the hall - high ceilings, a cross hanging above. There are three seating sections, and in front of those, a raised podium. At the front row Jacob Sesinyi former Debswana Public and Corporate Affairs Manager, a DIS agent and Kabelo Binns, the son of the Minister of Education Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi and founder of PR consultancy company Hotwire talk in low tones. They point to a chair in the middle sitting area, right at the front. After a while they disperse, nodding.

Kagiso Kwelagobe, the second-born son of the BDP veteran and current chairman, the former Minister Daniel Kwelagobe, walks in. He walks slowly. Lazily. He makes for the middle section.

He finds a chair and sits down. One of the ushers, a young woman in a body-hugging black dress, comes to him. She whispers into his ear. He momentarily contorts his face. The woman keeps talking. He pauses, and then slowly rises to his feet. He walks to the far left seating area and finds a chair there.

Two ushers stand near the door. They whisper casting secret glances the far left seating area. One of them peels away and comes up to the group of journalists, 'Gatwe ke le bolelele gore ga go tsewe dinepe. I am sure you have been informed about that',  she says, smiling suddenly, widely, briefly.

Isaac Kgosi, the head of the DIS arrives. He walks to the chair that had been the subject of Sesinyi and Binns' discussion. A knot of men gather around him. Kgosi is known as a right hand man to President Khama, the president whose installation Nchindo played a big role. Daniel Kwelagobe, the man who according to former President Festus Mogae was in a team that sought to bring Mogae and Nchindo together after their enstrangement, walks through the front door.

One of the ushers guides him to the seatting area, towards the front rows. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi arrives, smiling at the ushers as she walks in. Up at the wall behind the podium pictures of Nchindo are projected - Nchindo officiating at some mining event, the big holes behind, Nchindo with Seretse Khama, the ex-President smiling widely, Nchindo officially opening some installation.

And then Satar Dada arrives. An usher leads him to the far left front row. Dada and Nchindo among others were those strategic partners that stood at the node connecting BDP with the funds-rich private sector. Dada is the current treasurer of the party and often stands un-opposed in the post, a recognition of his strategic importance to the party. Not unlike Nchindo, Dada has made sure that the ruling party enjoys the funds it needs from the private sector to sustain and maintain its advantage over any challenger.

Bishop Trevor Mwamba walks up to the podium. Mwamba is a familiar face in the ruling class and its functions. He is the Bishop of Anglican Church, one of the religious institutions frequented by members of 'old money' and the ruling class. For example the Khama family go to Anglican. Mwamba officiated at Khama's inauguration. Mwamba was until recently married to the daughter of former President Quett Masire. Mwamba checks around the altar. Satisfied with everything he disappears again. At that point Mma Mogae and her daughter arrive. She passes behind the seating area and finds space at the far right edge of the right side.

Parks Tafa, in suit and tie grabs a chair at the entrance and finds a spot at the back and sits down. Tafa partner in Collins Newman & Company is the lawyer not just of the Nchindo's but of the Botswana Democratic Party, President Khama, Satar Dada.

Debswana MD Blackie Marole takes his seat. A frail looking Masire arrives. It is now public knowledge that Nchindo saved Masire from financial ruin by organising funds from De Beers to assist the then president with his in-the-red ranch. Furthermore, Nchindo is said to have been a midwife of transitions between Masire to Mogae, and even Mogae to Khama.

De Beers Botswana representatives led by outgoing CEO Sheila Khama. These are here to pay their last respects to the man who came to signify a good servant of De Beers agenda during his tenure as both De Beers chief and Debswana MD. Nchindo gave De Beers access to government institutionally, but personally as exemplified by the company's assistance to President Masire.

The Nchindo family walks in. Nchindo's mother Sedikwe Nchindo is surrounded by her children and grandchildren. A young-looking Andrea walks alongside a sombre-looking Garvas.

When the Nchindo family is sat a few more serious faces arrive in the hall, earpieces and thin cords stretching from ear, behind the neck, into the jacket. Three go for the three entrances and stand there, looking into the rest of the hall with theatrically expressionless faces.

A feeling of panic descends for a moment and then silence. Khama led by three security agents and Isaac Kgosi alongside him, walks in. The gathering rises to its feet. Khama sits at the front in the middle seatting section, just before the altar.

And then a fully robed Mwamba, led by Reverent Mongezi Guma and two altar boys comes. The group slowly rises up the stairs to the altar. Mwamba takes his place on a throne-like chair. The altar boys walk to the far left of the stage.

Joe Matome, the man who belongs to that group of young men groomed by Nchindo takes to the podium. He says he feels honoured to be given the opportunity to officiate at this function, the memorial service of 'my mentor, my friend'. He promises to carry forth Nchindo's vision. Matome reads a passage from the bible. He is followed by Onalenna Mack.

'When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: 'Deaath has been swallowed up in victory'. She reads.

Mwamba says God is love and that therefore death cannot defeat life. 'Although we may not be conscious of God, God's eternal kindness holds and guides us. Death is not the last act in life. God's love lasts beyond death' he says.

It is Dada's turn to pay tribute to Nchindo. He says he has known Nchindo both personally and professionally since the man returned form abroad to work in Botswana.

'Louis will be remembered by thousands that he gave support and a helping hand to. His family has lost not only a son, husband, father and grandfather, but someone who doubled up as a really great friend. To Louis' children, I urge you to always remember how lucky you were to have him as your father. To Andrea you had a solid man and friend. Please cherish all the moments you shared. We will all miss him,' he concludes.

Nicola Nchindo, Nchindo's daughter, implores people to remember her father for his larger-than-life personality.

'When I think of him I always smile, and I hope this is the way you will remember him as well'

'My dad was one of those hard working men who always seemed to get what he wanted. We are who we are because we had a father like him. He was very strict as a father but its because he cared about us,' says Anthony, adding that he believes Nchindo may have negotiated his way with God so he could occupy a vantage position, lording over other mere mortals out there in heaven. The gathering laughs.

'On Thursday morning my father's, body was recovered. My brother and I where present throughout the search and I bore witness to all the details of the investigation. Furthermore, once on site investigations were concluded, I was briefed by the police and concurred with their initial findings,' he said.

At the point Mwamba concludes the session.

Outside people gather into little knots. Former Chief Justice Julius Nganunu and former Minister of Home Affairs Charles Tibone walk together, exchanging friendly banter.

People hurry out. Having paid their respects to one of their own, before long the ruling class hurries back to do what it does - hold tight on the reigns of this country.

In a flash, the carpark is empty. The security agents gone. The suits, pointy shoes nowhere to be seen. The Mazabathi shades and the body-hugging dresses gone. Only 'nobodies' in their daily errands of selling airtime, cutting the long grass by the roadside, cleaning the toilets and waiting in queues.