As the briefcase man passes on

LAWRENCE OOKEDITSE
Correspondent | Friday June 11, 2010 00:00

 

On the Saturday of the BMD Convention, a day after the passing on of a great soul, Samson Moyo Guma serenaded a version of Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry in remembrance and in tribute to the right honourable gentleman, Baledzi Gaolathe. Elton John perhaps would have sung 'Candle in the wind'. Sadly, not much was devoted in his tribute in the public media.

Still, Reverend Dumie Mmualefhe at the BMD convention described Gaolathe as 'humility personified'. 'We thank you for your life and your service to this nation. We thank our savior for your life, your selflessness, and for you to have lived as so directed. Jesus Christ we thank you', he said in a short prayer.  'If there was a humble person in this world, it is this man. May his soul rest in peace', Reverend Mmualefhe added.

The pin-striped suit, sparkling buccaneer sharp pointed shoes, at times a dotted tie exposed from the neck up to just beneath the breast collar as revealed by a buttoned suit jacket is an image many will associate with him. Also, that steady commandeering voice as he would time and again punctuate his budget speeches with the words 'Mr. Speaker'.  His face, while not exactly cover-page material for the likes of PlayBoy, PEOPLE, MensHealth or other such society publications was perhaps more at home on the covers of TIME, Foreign Policy and similar publications.

In death, many a beast of a man is given accolades fit for angels. That seems a cardinal in Botswana, and perhaps most parts of the world. Thus, a good word for a fallen man or woman is often viewed as glorification of the dead, as is custom. However, even among those who have not received salary adjustments in the past three years, the 'man with the brief case' as Gaolathe had come to be known appears not to have lost much popularity.

'It is so sad to hear about all this. It's like I can still see him walking into parliament with his brief case', Kagiso Outule says. His sentiments are shared by many.  In his stride he was not the most gallant of men, yet in his briefcase he carried the economic facet with so much humility.

Humility was synonymous with Gaolathe. In the murky waters that politics is, escaping scrutiny and virulent criticism appears rare but he somehow never got run down. When the country's economy experienced the greatest slump in history, the man with the brief case despite being ultimately responsible for the country's finance escaped criticism; if anything, the criticism was directed at the entire government. This is largely attributable to the fact that he seldom if ever picked fights.

Enemies in politics are as many as friends and if someone loses an election to you, while they may accept defeat graciously like an old warrior, at the same time they will start plotting for the future. Already, aspiring by-election candidates are said to be clamoring for the constituency he has left behind. As a Member of Parliament he was not a star legislator in the mould of Modubule, Molefhabangwe, Ntuane, both Saleshandos, Rantao, Moatlhodi or even Filbert Nagafela. A jihadist in politics he was not, but he was an establishment man famous for carrying the briefcase with the country's financial future.

He was more of a civil servant than a politician and he did not seem to have much political ambition; maybe because of his not so well honed freedom square political skills.

That demeanor, more 'civil servant like' gave him an aura of respect. Freedom square politicians did not direct much if any virulence at him. While all spoke of the failure of economic diversification, the devaluation of the pula and other financial matters, the critics at some point pointed a finger at President Mogae, then at President Khama during the turbulence of the world economy. Forever seemingly 'sweet', the man with the brief case escaped criticism while his ministry was actually responsible for most initiatives.

The same applies to the national budget, he rarely took any punches, none were directed to him thus making him an altogether different breed of a politician.

He possibly earned a lot of the respect over the years but his appearance and conduct shielded him from criticism. In part, his non-provocative manner provided a shield for him as he seemed to be anointed in humility.

While Rantao, Dabutha, Koma, Kwelagobe, Saleshando Gil and Moatlhodi gained huge milestones through their wit and humor and Ntuane, Saleshando Dumelang and a few others gained prominence in part thanks to their fairly 'modern man' looks and for Ntuane bits of mavericks, he appears to have gotten his respect from elsewhere. Not quite the cute politician and certainly not the maverick or one to entertain at rallies, his respect was earned from civil servant like courtesy and a rare sense of calm even during difficult times. Typical of a man who goes about doing his business quietly and one who hates the tag of being 'a meddlesome interloper' intent on forever monitoring-without due authority-what others are doing. If it was none of his business it seems he kept out of it. That strategy won him numerous friends and less enemies-at least in the open.

At his funeral many paid their last respects; former presidents as well as ordinary people. A man at ease such that his last home is to be a graveyard among commoners in block 5. No wonder many went to say goodbye, even those who had never had much of a personal relationship with him.

However, there comes a time in the life of every mortal when one succumbs to the soul taker. When the man with the death knell comes knocking at the door there is no option but to go along.  His body lies not in some mausoleum as many figures in history, neither has it been mummified for a possible resurrection in case someday humankind stumbles upon a way to raise the dead but in many hearts his memory shall forever be enshrined.