Mmegi

Autlwetse: A life of service, political storm

Autlwetse’s story is complicated PIC KENNEDY RAMOKONE
Autlwetse’s story is complicated PIC KENNEDY RAMOKONE

The nation paused on the evening of Tuesday June, 3, 2025 as news made round that Kgotla Kenneth Autlwetse was late. Immediately the name is mentioned, one immediately thinks of his top oratory skills, especially when addressing in Setswana.

Also, who could forget his role as Minister for Local Government and Rural Development who stood against his Kgosikgolo Ian Khama and his tribesmen in favour of the then Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) regime. Autlwetse, who was a former councillor, stepped onto the national stage when he was elected as Member of Parliament for Serowe North East. That was after he defeated the then more prominent Member of Parliament (MP), Ramadeluka Seretse.

His biggest political job came in February 2022. After he lost elections in 2019, the president Mokgweetsi Masisi appointed him Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. The role placed Autlwetse at the centre of one of Botswana’s toughest tasks: improving livelihoods outside big towns and cities.

Editor's Comment
Let’s fight GBV as a collective

Botswana for the longest time was known for her virulent peace with family being an enviable institution.As the media, we are also scared to be incessantly reporting on these bloody scenes where women are brutally murdered and worse, sometimes in front of their children and loved ones. Yes, we have reported cases where men were also brutally murdered by their loved ones, but such cases are a drop in the ocean.For the past two weeks, Botswana was...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up