A PIONEER RESTS
Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkange constituency, Obed Chilume, who led the constituency as a Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) politician until his retirement from active politics in 1999, was a unifier and visionary worth emulating.
This was the general observation by speakers at the funeral of the former minister of Local Government and Lands who later became assistant minister of Finance and Development Planning.
Speaking on behalf of the BDP at the funeral, former MP, Pelotelele Tlhaodi implored those who attended the former MP’s burial not to mourn but celebrate Chilume as he had lived his life to the full.
“Immediately you become a grandfather, you should live and die with the knowledge and satisfaction that you have achieved everything there is to life,” said Tlhaodi. He praised Chilume for being a unifier even when factionalism in the party was almost the norm.
“He was forthright and refused to be pigeonholed into factionalism. Nor did he fight for party positions,” said Tlhaodi who also appreciated President Mokgweetsi Masisi for acknowledging the contribution Chilume made to the development of this country by renaming the Francistown Sports Complex as Itani Obed Chilume Stadium.
“It is not common for people to be honoured in this way while still alive. Wherever he is, he must be happy because of this gesture,” said Tlhaodi.
Representing Government, labour minister Mpho Balopi, who is also Secretary General of the ruling BDP said that Chilume deserved a grand burial in recognition of the role he played as a trail-blazer in the development of Botswana. “We have a lot to learn from pathfinders like Chilume,” said Balopi.
Also at the funeral and speaking on behalf of the Speaker of the National Assembly was former MP Leach Tlhomelang who also praised Chilume for his incessant pro-development rhetoric in Parliament.
“He always raised the issue of development for his constituency and beyond. Although he was in the executive arm of government, he spoke like a backbencher.
“He was one of the pathfinders of this country. The exponential growth that the country has achieved was due to people like him. As mourners, we should, instead of despairing, console ourselves with what he has done for us,” advised Tlhomelang.