Modubule’s rollercoaster political experience
‘No retirement for me from politics But will not be contesting for any constituency
Nehemiah Modubule’s sojourn in politics has certainly been a rollercoaster experience characterised by setbacks, twists and turns as well as spectacular hits and misses.
It all started in 1976 when the then 18-year old juvenile was a learner at Madiba secondary school in Mahalapye.
“The founder of the BNF, Dr Kenneth Koma had, at the invitation of our development studies teacher, given a lecture at the school. The subject matter was politics and development in Africa”, revealed the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Lobatse.
The lecture would have a permanent influence on Modubule’s political outlook which obtains to this day. Upon completion of his secondary education, he moved to Orapa where he joined the mine as a security officer.
In 1978, he migrated to Francistown and took up a job with Bank of Credit and Commerce. He joined hands with other BNF activists in Francistown.
“We did house-to-house activities together and deliberately avoided public rallies because the BPP youth in Francistown were very rowdy and disturbed our public political rallies”, revealed Modubule who added that, his party decided not to contest the 1979 general elections in Francistown mainly because of the hostility displayed by the BPP which was very significant in the Francistown area.
Feeling more confident, the BNF represented by Modubule, contested the 1984 general elections. At the time, Francistown was a single constituency and Patrick Balopi of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won with the Botswana Peoples’ Party (BPP) and BNF coming second and third in that order.
“Had we not competed, John Mosojane, who represented the BPP, would have won”, Modubule reminisced. His activism in politics, did not sit well with his timid and insecure managers at the Bank in Francistown which he had just joined from Orapa.
“There was a lot of pressure on me from my new employers who were themselves pressured by the Francistown Town Council (FTC) at the time. The BDP held the majority at the FTC.
“FTC was threatening to close its account with the bank I worked for and move its funds to a different bank. I was expected to either stop my political activism or leave the bank”, revealed Modubule who was rescued by an unlikely ally, Patrick Balopi. “Feeling oppressed, I approached Balopi who was then Minister of Local Government and Lands and told him about this undemocratic behaviour. To his credit, Balopi told them to desist from trampling on my democratic rights”, Modubule narrated.
Unbeknownst to him however, Balopi’s intervention was the mere lull before a storm for the opposition politician.
“To my shock and disbelief, I was transferred to Lobatse with immediate effect. When I got to Lobatse, not only did the managers there know nothing about my transfer there but there was also no accommodation for me.
“I returned to Francistown where I continued to work until accommodation was made available in Lobatse”, Modubule, who believes the transfer was politically motivated, narrated.
After campaigning in Lobatse with the other comrades for the 1989 general elections, the BNF became strong. However, according to Modubule, he was not welcomed by some on the basis that he is Kalanga.
“Some BNF members complained that I was taking their positions in the party in Lobatse. In fact, when
I expressed my interest to contest the Lobatse parliamentary seat in 1989 there was resistance even with some members of the BNF central committee demanding a Morolong or Mongwaketse candidate instead.
“At that point, it was clear the majority wanted me regardless of my tribe. At the end, primary elections were held between a comrade from Borolong and myself, I won by a landslide”, remembered Modubule, who then lost the Lobatse seat to Ronald Sebego in 1989.
Undeterred by the myriad obstacles thrown on his way by his comrades, Modubule went on to embark on the running of study groups to empower BNF cadres in Lobatse. Meanwhile, one of the potentially divisive developments was in the offing for the BNF.
“The BNF had not been happy with the electoral laws of the country for some time adjudging them to be undemocratic. For example, the elections were run from the Office of the President.
“In 1993, a serious debate ensued within the party on whether to contest the 1994 general elections or not. Some among us actually called for an armed struggle at the time”, remembered Modubule proudly.
He would leave the BNF in 1993 as he felt unwanted by the Southern region and formed the Peoples United Socialist Organisation (PUSO) which he then contested under in the 1994 general elections but lost to Otlaadisa Koosaletse of the BNF.