TSHABANG VIES FOR BCP SG POSITION
I want to defend the party against adversaries and the corrupt BDP - Tshabang
MEMBER of Parliament for Nkange, Never Tshabang, made history in 2019 by snatching a constituency that has been in the hands of Botswana Democratic Party(bdp) since independence.
The former University of Botswana lecturer got his chance during the attempt having lost elections to former Police Commissioner, Edwin Batshu, before. After making it to parliament, Tshabang did not waste time and proved his mettle with the type of informed contributions he brought to the parliamentary debates. He is one of the few MPS that cause both sides of the political divide to shut up and listen when he takes to the floor. The Voice staffer, DANIEL CHIDA, speaks to the man who says he is determined to grow the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) brand.
You were touring your constituency before testing positive to COVID-19, since then we haven’t heard of you, how do you interact with your people?
Covid-19 has made things difficult for us and to hold virtual meetings in a rural constituency is impossible given the low level of ICT uptake, so I have been appraising village leadership of up to 50 people per kgotla, with the hope that they will pass the message to the wider community members. I had to sit back a bit to recover but since then I have changed my schedule. However, some people use social media to update me, which is also good although not the best.
We see that some MPS are still struggling with technology during live parliamentary debates, how are you adapting?
It has been easy for me since I have so much experience in teleconferencing and other Internet based meetings. I used to do research partnership and collaborations during my time as an academic at UB. However, the only problem is network disruptions and delay caused by other members who are ICT challenged but hopefully we will all get there.
Coming from a rural constituency, what are the most critical issues that need to be prioritised?
Water is now a crisis in the whole constituency and some places go dry for months without a drop, however the issue will be a thing of the past since the constituency is being connected to Ntimbale Dam. It has been a struggle to get Water Utilities Corporation to put in place shortterm solutions, while waiting for Ntimbale connections.
There is also dire need for Tutume Sub District to be turned to a full District. The commencement of the construction of Tutume Hospital, which was allocated money in the 2020/21 financial year budgets, should now kick off because patients who could be assisted there end up being transferred to Nyangabgwe or Mahalapye. For a long time,
our people have been suffering because of Wildlife. The issue of human-wildlife conflict should be given priority before it gets out of hand. The other big issue is land allocation. People have been in a long waiting list for a long time. However, all hope is not lost as there is continued follow-up on the completion of the Maitengwe Police Station and TutumeMaitengwe road resealing. We are also fighting with the wildlife department about the elephants but hopefully a solution will be found.
We have been informed of your interest in contesting for BCP SG position, kindly elaborate on that.
Yes, I am interested in the position. I have just started my campaign and hope to intensify during parliament recess. It’s my desire to serve Botswana Congress Party at that level.
What made you to take that decision?
The love I have for the party, and with my experience I think I am ready to serve, to grow and build the integrity of the organisation. Honestly, I want to defend the party against adversaries and the corrupt BDP. I want to revive the party structures and recruit more youth into our fold. There are many people who know nothing about politics except the bad things, so we need to change that perception and re-brand politics to be in line with today’s standards.
Do you think you will make it?
The support that I have been getting from people shows that they want me so I don’t doubt anything. The only failure would be to let them down once elected; a thing I would not do.
Lastly, having worked with President Mokgweetsi Masisi, how do you assess him?
Masisi’s government is just too much talk with little delivery. He promised so many things like electric car, fighting corruption, constitutional review but none of that is seen in the horizon. If I were to rate him, I would give him 3/10.
Corruption busting agency, Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), has confirmed the receipt of a letter implicating the Private Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Tshepiso Letshwiti, in corruption dealings at the ministry.
In the letter delivered by post to the DCEC, Permanent Secretary and the Minister of Transport on February, 08th, Letshwiti is accused of engaging in corrupt activities in relation to awarding of tenders by the ministry.
The letter, which The Voice has in its possession, further states that disgruntled business people in the construction industry have made the tip-off.
Claiming that Letshwiti was notorious for receiving bribes from Chinese construction companies in exchange for tenders, the letter states thus: “We gave the ministry and the DCEC leads on how to get him and check out and implement a lifestyle audit which they did not. The only sensible thing now for us is to believe that the cartel is deeper than we thought. As citizens, we continue to be watching as foreigners win jobs corruptly within the ministry. He lives beyond his means and recently bought a Toyota Hilux GD 6 cash. He pays for houses for his women for over P25 000 monthly rentals and he bought the women in his life cars cash recently,” reads the letter
He can demand up to P500,000 bribe, the letter alleges.
He is also accused of having profited from selling permits to foreigners when he worked at the ministry of labour and giving jobs to foreigners for a fee while at the Ministry of Health.
The complainants went on to express frustration and hopelessness in the tender process at the Ministry of Transport because apparently one cannot win unless one works closely with Letshwiti.
DCEC spokesperson, Lentswe, confirmed receipt of the letter but could not divulge more information as the matter is still new.
When reached for a comment, Letshwiti revealed that this is not the first time he has been accused of corruption and went on to deny all the allegations, arguing that it is not possible for him to meddle in the tender process when he is not part of any tender committees.
At the time of going to press, he had not heard from the DCEC.
‘No police mans allowed pliss,’ declares the bold notice scribbled onto the Rakgabo family’s rusty gate that guard’s entrance to their rented home in Selebi Phikwe.
The family have accused Botshabelo Police of continued abuse, including a severe beating that left their 59-year-old mother a bloody mess.
Sitting by the verandah this Tuesday, a crutch on the ground beside her, heavy bandages wrapped around her left foot and arm, Margaret Sehuta Rakgabo is in obvious pain.
According to the old woman, exactly a week ago, officers battered her black and blue for attempting to come to her son’s aid during a heavy-handed arrest.
“They smashed my arm with a baton. I thought my hand was cut in half as blood was squirting out heavily. As I listened to my hand, a police boot crushed down on my left foot and I fell down,” narrates Margaret, who is a sought- after traditional doctor in the Botshabelo area.
Speaking rapidly, her anger rising with each sentence, Margaret said the trouble started the previous evening (Monday 1st March), when her son, Ontefetse Rakgabo, turned up with a gunshot wound to the thigh.
“The police shot him with a rubber bullet for no reason!” she exclaimed, her thin face wincing at the memory.
The following morning, as Margaret was getting ready for her job at Ipelegeng, a police van parked up outside their yard.
“Six policemen dropped from the car and proceeded to the house where my son was. They started beating him, using a baton stick and he fell down. I could not stomach the pain of seeing my son being beaten like a dog, so I went to them and asked them not to beat him but to arrest him nicely if indeed he did something wrong.”
Margaret says she paid for her bravery with a broken arm and two broken toes.
“After I fell, my granddaughter, who is a nursing mother to a one-monthold baby, came from the house crying that the police cannot beat me and she was slapped with a hot clap!”
While all this was happening, Ontefetse, 30, sought refuge inside his younger brother’s room, locking himself in.
“The police broke open the door. He tried to run but they hit him with a log and then pulled him on the ground before throwing him in their car. They wanted to arrest me, saying I obstructed them from doing their job but I refused to go with them. After some minutes, other police officers came and took me to the station. I was about to drink tea so I can take my medication and they forced me to leave everything,” seethed Margaret, adding she was only taken to the hospital after spending most of the day at the police station.
She is scheduled to return to hospital on 23rd March to plaster her broken arm.
Detailing the events that led to the Tuesday showdown, Agnes Odisetse, who rents in the same yard as Ontefetse in the North of Phikwe, revealed the police came to their place three times the previous night.
“They were issues of boyfriend and girlfriend cheating between my son, Uyapo and others. They wanted to arrest my son but Ontefetse told them they can’t as he did nothing wrong. They left but came back armed with guns and shot Ontefetse on the hip. His injury keeps oozing blood and water. Botshabelo police always beat people and we are tired!” complained the 57-year-old Odisetse.
Unfortunately, efforts to get hold of Ontefetse proved unsuccessful. He does not have a phone and was not around when The Voice visited Phikwe on Tuesday.
“We were with him at the weekend but he did not sleep at his girlfriend’s last night. I’m not sure where he is,” admitted Margaret, who did not seem too worried.
Meanwhile, Botshabelo Station Commander, Elias Malope, maintained his police officers were acting in self-defence and had been attacked by the Rakgabo family first.
“Some of the officers were injured. They were bitten,
stones were also thrown at the police by the family members. During the arrest, Ofentse got in the house and brought a knife to attack the police.
“The family should tell you the whole story. Ontefetse has some cases, including common nuisance and assault common, to be taken to court and his mother also has to be arraigned for obstructing the police officers. They might be arraigned this Wednesday,” declared Malope.