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Botswana: Bravo! Cde Phage
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
OPINION
31 July 2007
Posted to the web 31 July 2007
Mokgweetsi Kgosipula
The day the returning officer of Mmopane polling district declared nominated candidates, I knew that party politics aside, Comrade Phage would be the undisputed leader in the race for the vacant ward seat, among the five vying candidates. I worked with the man as my councillor for Mogoditshane North between 1994 and 1999 and I can safely say I know him very well.
Although he was a newcomer to politics, he possessed the pre-requisite qualities of a people's leader, a very good communicator, desire to learn, accessible and extremely humorous though occasionally spiced with unpalatables.
By nature, the man is a street fighter and a bulldozer. Remember the October 16th kgotla meeting addressed by His Excellency President Festus Mogae at Mogoditshane where comrade Phage fighting by my side never hesitated to take the head of state head on to the amusement of many especially the down trodden. During his tenure as councillor for Mogoditshane North, he delivered exceptionally well.
Not only that, he also fielded assignments outside his ward including representing me in official functions. The man became a political asset and "Phagenyana Phage" became a household name in the constituency. His further development was interrupted by the catastrophic emergence of the BCP (not the subject of this article).
One of the burning issues at a time was the land question, which apparently remains unresolved to this date.
The proposed greater Gaborone planning area which envisages the inclusion of Ledumadumane into Gaborone and the reckless manner in which the BDP is handling the matter became fodder for the fire eating comrade "Lister" as the man is affectionately known in political circles. On the basis of his record, the electorates of Mmopane Ward identified him and landed their support from across all political parties.
It is an open secret that comrade Phage was elected by card-carrying members both in the BNF and the BDP for a purpose. This is a wake up call to political parties never to take voters for granted in their selection of candidates. In a rare occurrence therefore, Cde Phage has performed far beyond the capacity of his party - BCP.
Whilst the BCP is a sponsor and therefore a beneficiary, its victory is unsustainable in the long term as it is vested in an individual. This is not an isolated case. An appropriate example would be Lentsweletau constituency by-election where I represented BCP and took it to the second position beating the BNF and only to be devastated at the next elections with a different candidate.
I can also put my head on the block and say without Rre Columbia Legwale of Lentsweletau West ward, the BCP cannot retain the ward as those votes were personal. However, I want to take this opportunity to express my delight for the fact that finally the ward is in the opposition hands. Congratulations BCP.
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To the BDP, I say thank God for delivering your son Jesus immediately after the little known political demagogue by the of name Kentse Rammidi made on behalf of the BDP, the assertion that they will only relinquish power upon arrival of Jesus.
The first installment has been delivered.
Finally, congratulations to the electorate of Mmopane ward and to Comrade Phage I say bravo!
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