25 Mar 2018

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has branded Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi as a cornerstone comparable to veteran retired politician Dr Gaositwe Chiepe.

In a rather unusual occurrence where electorates and their representatives are expected to praise outgoing President Khama at his farewell Kgotla meetings, the President instead showered Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi with superlatives for her hard work and dedication.

When responding to some remarks made by Dr Venson-Moitoi to the effect that he was a benevolent yet a strict leader, especially in respect of time and timely delivery of any assignment, President Khama said that Dr Venson-Moitoi thrived under his presidency nonetheless.

A woman she called his ‘close friend’ President Khama found Dr Venson-Moitoi a hardworking politician who continued to be appointed to various cabinet posts by various presidents she served under.

He said the various appointments were testament to his findings that Dr Venson-Moitoi was a cut above the rest.

From the friendship so much was born and consequently the President thanked Dr Venson-Moitoi for the gesture. During the event President Khama exhibited his lighter side when responding to many of the statements put before him by Serowe South Member of Parliament.

Dr Venson-Moitoi set the tone when she jokingly told her electorates that she will be accompanying President Khama to register for old age pension as his self-appointed older sister.

She also said that President Khama was a loving and benevolent man but, very strict and firm especially to late comers and those failing to act as per instruction or failing to meet set deadlines.

She observed that late comers and failures received the wrath of the President.

With hindsight, the Serowe South legislator gathered she nearly packed her bags to decamp had it not because of interventions from her fellow democrats in the names of Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane and others who begged the President on her behalf.

However, Dr Venson-Moitoi believes that as a President one had to be strict and firm, nurture no friendships so as to get the country going. “At the end of it all one had to serve Batswana,” Dr Venson-Moitoi said.

In a rather humour-filled response President Khama said he had always believed that he was young and that his claims were backed by Serowe South Constituency programme where they used his pictures in action playing football and riding motorbike.

He quizzed rather rhetorically and drew laughter from the packed kgotla, “Where have you seen a pensioner perform those activities?”

He also jokingly warned Dr Venson-Moitoi that, with the few days left on his presidential term, he could still fire her if she continued to be jealous of him. ENDS