Speaking at the Tati River Lodge Hall last Friday where she was on her campaign trail, Venson-Moitoi who until last year was minister of Local Government and Rural Development decried foul that at 67 and after serving the BDP-led government for 40 years, she was recently asked to renounce her Malawian citizenship. “My biological father originated from Malawi,” said the Serowe-born politician to a quiet hall that was filled to capacity with party diehards kitted on the party’s predominantly red attire. She told the meeting that it was only after so many years of her life that her Malawian citizenship was raised by the government of the day. This comes after she declared her interest to challenge incumbent State President Mokgweetsi Masisi for the party presidency in Kang next month.
“After so many years of my life I was recently told I should go to Malawi and renounce my citizenship which has never been an issue when I was in office serving this government for 40 years,” Venson-Moitoi said amidst laughter, stating that recent instructions to renounce the Malawian citizenship originated from the government, without specifying the exact office. In a post TRL meeting interview, Venson-Moitoi explained: “My brother Tebogo Venson had to renounce when his Omang expired. We were then advised that the family had to come and renounce and this came from the office of Omang.”
