Molao signals intention to succeed Gaolathe?

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Tuesday June 8, 2010 00:00

 

Details of the bus trip emerged at a prayer meeting held at Gaolathe's house, when one of the Botswana Deamocratic Party (BDP) officials from Tonota North stood to pay tribute to the late politician. Among others the speaker spoke of a sponsored free ride the constituency officials from the 10 villages in Tonota North had enjoyed.

The delegation from Tonota North constituency was made up of representatives from the women's wing, a former branch chairperson, a vice secretary and a former treasurer, all of whom serve in various capacities in the regional committee. The Tonota North officials wore party colours on the night and at the last church service before the funeral the following morning.

Meanwhile, Molao cut short his trip to Nigeria to attend Gaolathe's funeral. He had left last week Monday for Nigeria to formulate Africa's position paper on youth policy for the world youth conference in Mexico in August. But he was seen on Saturday morning at Gaolathe's funeral service at Trinity Church in Gaborone.  He told Mmegi that he sponsored the trip of mourners from Tonota because many people in Gaolathe's constituency wanted to bid their MP farewell. 'I made that contribution to enable representatives of all the 10 wards pay their last respects. I would not want to say whether I am standing or not because I regard that question as very insensitive. What kind of man would want to declare after burying his MP that he wants to take over his constituency,' he said.

Molao is a former BDP administration manager and former regional chairperson, North East, which includes Tonota North constituency. He resigned his regional chairmanship upon assuming the reigns of the BNYC last year. He originates from Mathangwane, one of the 10 wards in the Tonota constituency.

Meanwhile deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Lewis Malikongwa has tendered his resignation to fight for the vacant Tonota North parliamentary seat. Malikongwa refused to comment yesterday but impeccable sources have told Mmegi the man from Marapong has requested for a waiver so as to be allowed to go at the end of this month, although he is required to serve a three-month notice. He is understood to have been preparing to go for the seat as early as last year when he was reported to have addressed some Central District councillors in Serowe about his intention to venture into politics. He served for many years as the district commissioner in the vast Central District, Kweneng and Ngwaketse. At some point he worked in the then vice-president, Ian Khama's office as senior private secretary in place of current director of intelligence Isaac Kgosi, who had gone for further studies.

Sources say that Malikongwa has been working behind the scenes using a number of councillors in the 10 wards of Tonota North to drum up support.

But he faces a strong challenge from former area MP, Olifant Mfa, who hails from Sebina. Mfa was the MP for the area previously known as Sebina-Gweta before its borders were slightly altered in the last delimitation commission to create Tonota North. The former MP is a well-known supporter of Khama. He lost his Nata/Gweta seat when he was beaten in the party primary elections by Rainer Makosha.