GOODBYE MOTHER LESH
Lesego Motsumi described as a rare, saga-free politician
Former National Assembly Speaker Margret Nasha says Botswana is blessed to have had a feisty and honest politician like the late Lesego Motsumi, further describing her as a rare breed.
Motsumi (68) suffered serious burn injuries at her home in Ramotswa on the 31st December 2022.
She was injured from her armpit down to her thigh when an unidentified item exploded while she was burning refuse in her homestead. Motsumi succumbed to the burns last week Monday and was buried this past weekend in Ramotswa. Motsumi held several cabinet positions. She was Assistant Minister of Labour and Home Affairs (2002-2003); Minister of Health (2003-2004), Works and Transport (2004-2008). She returned to the Ministry of Health from 2008-2009, Presidential Affairs and Public Administration (20092011). She also served as Acting Minister of Defence, Justice and Security (2010-2011).
She was also High Commissioner of Botswana to India from 2011 to 2020. “During her time in cabinet, we have never heard anywhere that she was involved in corruption sagas. I am saying this today because if anyone dare say Motsumi ever stole a teaspoon, they will have me to deal with,” Nasha said. Nasha said that the deceased former minister cannot be accused of stealing anything now after her death when she is unable to defend herself. “In politics when you steal they talk, when you are a witch they talk. When you join politics, it is more like stripping yourself naked. We would have long known. There is no privacy in politics,” she said. Unlike in some cases where top government officials are mostly implicated in thievery, an honest Motsumi was never accused of awarding herself or close family members government tenders. Nasha said Motsumi was forever on her toes; never turned down a challenge; was an all-rounder, and that no job was too big or too small for her. She was a people’s person and had her way with people. Botswana has lost a great leader, Nasha said,recalling how Motsumi always confided in her on most things. They traversed the country together during political campaigns and it was under Nasha’s wing that Motsumi became the great politician she was. Former Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development who was also Member of Parliament for Mahalapye East constituency Botlogile Tshireletso said she will always remember Motsumi as a loving person. It was Motsumi who helped Tshireletso to get the job of assistant minister,
“Thanks to her, I got the Assistant Minister position, I will forever be thankful,” Tshireletso said.
Former Assistant Minister of Education Moggie Mbaakanyi also described Motsumi as a dignified and disciplined politician. “I met her when we were both secondary school teachers. We met again in 2004 in parliament when I was one of the three specially elected members of Parliament.
“The other two specially elected women were Nasha and Sheila Tlou. She was mother of the nation, not even discriminatory although she came from a royal family, she was a down to earth and loving person. She had adopted many children around her,” Mbaakanyi said. She recalled how they took cabinet meetings seriously, saying during their time, they dressed lavishly on the day in an effort to impress. “We wore our best clothes and after cabinet, we would go to the best restaurants in the city to spoil ourselves, that was us supporting Botswana businesses,” she said. Opening of parliament was also a big deal, she recalled, they knew that they had to come out looking like queens and they were proud that Batswana enjoyed it.