An ode to David 'Mdavo' Mhiemang

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Word went around on Monday this week that David Mhiemang had died. He outlived his good friend and age mate, former secretary general of the Botswana National Front, Mareledi Giddie, by a good 10 years or more. The two might have left the Botswana Independence Party together to join the newly formed BNF.

Mhiemang is also of the generation of Lenyeletse Koma, who served on the central committee of the BNF in the capacities of secretary for labour, political education and economy at various stages. He had built a reputation as an enterprising businessperson before he committed himself to studying law at the University of Bophuthatswana in modern-day North West Province of South Africa. In later years, he often spoke of himself as a journalist, an economist, a lawyer and a political scientist.From Mafikeng, Mhiemang wrote several articles for publication in The Botswana Guardian on legal topics around 1983 and 1984.

He visited Botswana regularly, taking part in the historic campaign that took Botswana National Front leader, Kenneth Koma, to parliament, giving the organisation the status of a credible alternative government.  At around that time, Mhiemang successfully campaigned for the position of secretary for legal affairs on the central committee of the BNF.Amicably known as 'Bra Day', he kept his relationship with the press alive and was an active member of the Botswana Press Club.

Editor's Comment
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It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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