The founding president of Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Michael Kitso Dingake has been laid to rest after succumbing to a brief illness on April 7.
In a tribute to her father, Sithembile Dingake says she honoured his final wish to be buried in a simple coffin. "Honoring my father's wish, to be laid to rest in a simple coffin, in a public cemetery," she shared. However, there is a sense of disappointment amongst some in Botswana over the lack of recognition for Dingake's contributions.
Speaking at Dingake's memorial service, Goretetse Kekgonegile, the secretary-general of BCP, expressed that the late Dingake should have been accorded a state funeral given his significant role in the liberation of Southern Africa. "Considering the significant impact that the late Dingake had in the liberation of Southern Africa, it is regrettable that he was not honoured with a state funeral. His valuable contributions deserved to be fully acknowledged in this manner," said Kekgonegile. Kekgonegile highlighted Dingake's remarkable journey as a revolutionary, spending 15 years on Robben Island alongside the late Nelson Mandela and other freedom fighters. "Cde Dingake's name will be known as long as the world stands," he emphasised.
Born on February 11, 1928, Speakers at his funeral said Dingake leaves behind a legacy of courage and dedication to the cause of freedom and his commitment to the betterment of Botswana and the region as a whole will be remembered for generations to come.
