18 Jan 2018

Like a saying that political figures are often the butt of jokes and witty references to their opponents especially during elections campaigns; former MP for Mochudi East, Mr Isaac Davids was not an exception in this regard.

Whenever he was on the floor during Parliament debates or making comments on important national issues, it was all laughter from both isles as he would at times ‘call a spade a spade’ with little prospects of apologising if one feels he has been wronged or unnecessarily attacked.

The MP had unparalleled sense of humour that provided comic relief that defused fatigue or tense feeling evoked by serious issues being discussed in Parliament.

Whenever he started his debates, he would hit at one or two members before driving his point home.

“He was a lovely, bubbly person and always keen to have a laugh. Surely we shall miss him,” said Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Kagiso Molatlhegi in an interview.

He said Mr Davids loved his constituency and was a true representative of his people as he was very passionate about the people he represented.

Mr Molatlhegi said his comments were straightforward especially with regard to advocating passionately for development in his constituency and he always updated the electorate about what was discussed in Parliament.

He said outside Parliament, Mr Davids was fun to be with, but, whenever he entered the House, his tone changed completely, especially with regard to issues pertaining to his constituency and Bakgatla in general.

“He was bold, strict and eloquent in his debate and would not be afraid to take any Member of Parliament head on. All I know is that when he was unhappy about the Speakers’ ruling, he would not keep quit, he would beat up the tables and sometimes use strong language towards his colleagues,” he said.

Born in 1950, Mr Davids’ political life includes being a former councillor from 1994 to 1999.

He became MP for Kgatleng East from 1999 to 2004 and from 2014 until 2018 as MP for Muchudi East. At the National Assembly, Mr Davids was a member of agriculture, lands and housing as well as standing orders and reforms committees.

He dies an active member of Botswana Democratic Party after decamping from the Umbrella for Democratic Change.

Below are some of the memorable remarks during various parliamentary sessions which Mr Davids can be remembered for.

Debating on November 28, 2014 during topic on nomination of specially elected councillors:
Mr Davids: Mr Speaker, nna smile saga Mma Tshireletso se setse se ntapisitse. We are discussing serious issues o a tshega. Ke batla go lebela go sele. Bangwe ga ba a tlhoafala, ba ba tlileng mo Ntlong e. Ga ke dumele sepe sa gore gatwe batho ba tserwe ka ba na le dikitso dingwe. Kwa kgaolong ya Kgatleng Botlhaba ka gore lona le e bitsa Mochudi, maDomkrag, go tswa go tsewa motho a tlhophiwa la boraro, a sena le fa a nnang teng mo Kgatleng Botlhaba. Mme batho ba le teng, le one maDomkrag a le teng. Motho yo o tserweng Motsamaisa Dipuisanyo tsa Palamente, ke motho yo o babang menwana, a re ke moruti mme o baba menwana. Mme le jaanong o ka bona bosetlhogo jo re bo direlwang; gape o dinalanyana.

Debating on December 1, 2014:
Mr Davids: Let me thank this great tribe ya Bakgatla, ba e seng malope, ga ba kgakala ba fela fa.  Motsamaisa Dipuisanyo tsa Palamente motse wa Mochudi kana Bakgatla ba fana molelwane le Gaborone, mme fa o ya teng ga go na sepe. Le a simple proper hospital ga e yo mme la re le a busa, 48 years we do not even have a simple hospital.”

Debating during the Winter session on July 30 ,2015.
Mr Davids: I am not yielding Sir. Kwa Bobonong o na le matamo. You have got everything. Kwa Kgatleng Botlhaba le Kgatleng otlhe, bona tlhe maDomkraga gore motse wa Kgatleng o gaufi jang le toropo mme ga go na sepe se o ka se supang! Kgathi ke tlaa go laletsa, kana Matona. Tsogwane o ne a ruta kwa Kgatleng kwa, gompieno ga go na sepe, ga go na ditsela. Nnyaa batho betsho melao e le ka e dira mme kwa ga rona kwa Kgatleng ga seyo se e leng gore le ka thusa ka sone. Nnyaa nte ke le bolelele maDomkraga gore golo gongwe ga le dire sentle. Ga go molato go ema o gakolola batho re buelela setšhaba se se sotlegang. Empower our people first.

Debating during the budget session on February 8,2017:
Mr Davids: Re bua ka economy, re kgaoganya madi mme Batswana ba setse kwa morago, mme ga re bolo go nna re le kopa re re this Citizen Economic Empowerment. Ga go a nna jalo gotlhelele. Re humisitse batswakwa gotwe they are investors. I have seen ba ba tlang ka sandals le briefcase nyana a tsentse t-shirt mo teng a bo a nna millionaire kamoso go bo gotwe he is an investor. The tenderpreneurs tse e leng gore ga ntsi re di bonela ka fa ntlheng e le nngwe ka fa. No investment and Batswana are left behind, go bo gotwe gompieno re kgaoganye madi gape.

Mr Davids died on Sunday after an alleged fight that ensued between him and his herdmen at Sorilatholo in the Kweneng District.

Police investigations are continuing, while the two suspects who appeared before Molepolole Magistrate on Monday have been remanded in police custody. ENDS