Kgathi 'jibe' riles opposition youth leaders

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Wednesday October 13, 2010 00:00

Addressing a press conference on the issue, Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) Youth League spokesman Winfred Rasina said they were shocked by minister Kgathi who insulted them using the swear word 'Nxa'. 'It was very arrogant of him.

It is a word which he used to show disrespect (lenyatso) and that he does not care how we feel or what we are saying,' he said.

The minister was speaking towards the end of the programme on Monday when he suddenly castigated youth league leaders of the opposition - the BMD, Botswana National Front (BNF) and the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), accusing them of bringing politics to the Pitso.  Narrating the turn of events, BNFYL president Kagiso Ntime said even during question and answer time, despite showing that they wanted to comment, they were ignored until some people complained. 'We realised that something was amiss. Then Kgathi came and insulted us. I don't know what is the wrong thing we did.

Our comrades were putting on party colours just like other invitees who had put on their organisations' colours, like the Botswana Red Cross Society people.  We think Kgathi wanted to treat that Pitso like a BDP thing and he did not want us to participate,' he said.

Lotty Manyapetsa, BCPYL president, and his counterparts called for Kgathi's resignation.  'He must resign for inviting us and insulting us. He was obviously angry that we criticise the way they run things, like the issue of the constituency league.  He said he doesn't know who we are, coming dressed in party colours to the Youth Pitso.

Kgathi doesn't have the temperament to be a minister. He should know how to hold his emotions in check. This ministry doesn't need someone who easily goes off the rails at the slightest provocation because as youth we ask very uncomfortable questions. He must apologise and resign. 

As opposition youth we are going to meet to chart the way forward on this issue,' he said. Rasina added that they are even considering taking legal action against the minister for insulting them. Minister Kgathi could not be contacted at the time of going to press as his mobile phone rang unanswered. When called ministry spokesman Kristian Mmusi said, 'at the moment we are not in a position to comment on that'.