06 Jan 2019

Speakers at the burial of the late Deputy Attorney General, Mr Morulaganyi Chamme have described him as principled individual, who has diligently served Botswana’s justice system.

Mr Chamme, who died on New Year’s Eve after a prolonged battle with diabetes was buried at Madiba cemetery, in Mahalapye on January 5.

The Vice President Slumber Tsogwane was among mourners who came to pay their last respects.

Speaking at the funeral, Mr Tsogwane said the death of Mr Chamme was a sad moment that had affected the whole nation.

Mr Tsogwane said the deceased had served for a long time as a legal advisor to government.

Despite the difficult times, Mr Tsogwane appealed to the deceased’s family, relatives, the legal family and the nation at large to find comfort in the legacy left behind by Mr Chamme.

He said the deceased life was worth celebrating as he had left behind positive memories that would be relished over many years to come.

Mr Tsogwane described Mr Chamme as tolerant, adorable, hardworking and persistent with leadership skills.

He acted accordingly with his line of duty and represented the government well in legal issues, he said.

“He was a leader in his own right, humble and truthful. I believe he has finished his race, and therefore we must emulate his qualities and serve accordingly and diligently.”

Mr Tsogwane indicated that Mr Chamme was instrumental in advising government in order to act accordingly during the civil servants’ strike of 2011.

“Leaders of Mr Chamme’s caliber are the right prescription in governing the nation.”

For his part, Permanent Secretary to the President, Mr Carter Morupisi recalled that at a time when he was still at the Directorate of Public Service Management, Mr Chamme was the government’s legal advisor.

Mr Morupisi also recalled that Mr Chamme was a principled man who abided by the law.

“There was a time when myself, the then President differed in approaching one of the labour issues before.

 I then told him, that as our legal advisor he must do what we want, not want he thinks was right.”

He humbly replied by saying, ‘the problem is that you and your boss do not heed to my advice. Remember that if anything goes wrong, you will face the wrath of the law alone since the President was immune’.

He was humble, whoever crossed his line was always defeated by his humble reaction, said Mr Morupisi. Mr Morupisi said Mr Chamme was committed to applying the law as it was, not serving personal desires.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General, Mr Abraham Keetshabe described the deceased as a walking encyclopedia with institutional memory as his experience and commitment to serving the legal system was without doubt. My duty is to give instructions and as my right hand man, Mr Chamme would together with his team act, he said. Mr Keetshabe described the justice system as a hot potato where tempers always fly and only to be calmed by characters of Mr Chamme’s caliber. He was pivotal in the running of our justice system, said Mr Keetshabe.

He said after the retirement of Dr Athalia Molokomme, Mr Chamme would then serve on acting appointment as Attorney General. He was working with cabinet and therefore had to calm some of the heaviest storms in the justice system that one had to encounter, said Mr Keetshabe.

Despite his health challenges, Mr Keetshabe said Mr Chamme served diligently while acting as Attorney General.

“There is no one who will run a race with the intention of not completing it.

Mr Chamme has started and completed his race of turning our justice system into what it is today.
He is a repository of the law, as Attorney General, I was able to excel due to people like Mr Chamme,” said Mr Keetshabe.
Mr Nchunga Nchunga, who has served directly under the supervision of Mr Chamme for 23 years also described the deceased as a composed, cool and collected gentleman.
A trustworthy and principled individual who attended high profile meetings and never divulged the contents to anyone,” he said.
“I first met with Mr Chamme in 1987 while I was still a law student at the University of Botswana.
I was assigned to interpret for a Hambukushu man who was accused of murder at Maun in a case that Mr Chamme was the prosecutor,” said Mr Nchunga.
Mr Nchunga said those who were under Mr Chamme’s supervision always described him as a good man.
Mr Chamme’s friend, former colleague and school mate, Mr Sedie Sedie said they attended secondary school at Maruapula Private Secondary School and were at one stage classmates to President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Mr Sedie said having been admitted at Maruapula from a primary school in a rural area was evidence that Mr Chamme was an excelling student.
Back then Maruapula admitted excelling students from primary schools across the country, he said.
Education was top of his priority issues, said Mr Sedie.
Despite excelling academically, Mr Sedie said his friend like any other individuals had some low points.
“Of all the time we had spent together since secondary school and university at Swaziland, my friend was failing to do all the alphabets.
He would try, but never complete the alphabetical order without faulting.
Mr friend also failed in dancing and was not patient with slow learners, he said.
His son Mr Koketso Chamme also concurred with Mr Sedie that his father was passionate about education.
“It was unfortunate that I spent a lot of time away from him due to work commitments.”
Her daughter, Moratwa Nareetsile said her father had left a lot of memories to cherish.
She described him as a strong family man, who always wanted the best for them, adding that despite his long battle with diabetes he remained dedicated to his job and serving the family.
“To all who are here, thank you for being with us to celebrate our dad’s life as we bid him farewell.”

In a written message that was delivered by one of the family members, Mr Thabo Chamme, the deceased’s wife, Dikabelo said that her husband had been living with diabetes since his tertiary school days.

Ms Chamme said her husband’s health deteriorated in 2014 as he frequented health facilities for medical attention.

She said the deceased’s health was sustained with the assistance of a team of dedicated health workers.

He was fighting the ailment with all he could, she said.

Ms Chamme said it was unfortunate that as time went, the ailment also affected the deceased’s eye sight and kidneys.

“He was a pillar of my strength and I was able to pull through challenges with his support. Our wedding day was blessed with rain, and he departed from this earth under similar weather conditions,” said Ms Chamme.

Mr Chamme, also known as Rucks, was a passionate farmer who spent most of his time at the cattle post and fond of reading Farmers Weekly and other farming magazines. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and two sons. Ends