Veteran politician Lenyeletse Koma, 86, cousin to Botswana National Front (BNF) founder Kenneth Koma, died this week, his family has revealed.
According to a notice shared with MmegiOnline by the family, Koma died on December 31, 2025, and will be buried in Lobatse on January 10, 2026. He is the cousin to the late intellectual and politician Kenneth Koma, who died in 2007.
In the late 1980s, Koma was expelled from the BNF, the then-main opposition. He went on to form a party that he called the Botswana Labour Party (BLP).
Electorally, having existed from 1989, the BLP was not gaining traction, but Koma clung to the name. It was only recently that the name gained more prominence following others leaving BNF, and Koma granting his former comrades permission to use it.
“Koma was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle. He will be remembered for his love, guidance, and important role he played within his family and community,” reads the family notice.
A memorial service held in honour of the veteran opposition activist will be hosted this Thursday at 2pm at the Peleng Community Hall.
