09 Sep 2019

The common  denominator at  a farewell lunch held in honour of former Mahalapye East legislator Ms Botlogile Tshireletso over the weekend was the intense passion with which she tackled some issues viewed unconventional by some.

Speaker after speaker said Ms Tshireletso’s fearless character came to the fore when she addressed issues such as abortion and homosexuality laws as well as  the need to protect sex workers and the legalisation of their trade.

The speakers noted how the former MP would never shy away from tackling controversial topics despite the strong opposition she often had to contend with.

A friend, Professor Setumile Morapedi, said Ms Tshireletso always waded through murky waters with such strong conviction that she would not allow any contradictory voice to sway her.

To Dr Unity Dow, Ms Tshireletso’s purpose in life was mainly to shine the light on the plight of people affected by issues that did not impact on the rest of  society.

Dr Dow, who is Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, said when addressing such issues, Ms Tshireletso’s passion was always palpable as she would push aside all opposition to make her point known.

“She is bold enough to articulate her views on issues that most of us would be uncomfortable talking about,” she observed.

UNICEF country representative, Ms Julianna Lindsey said she too had been impressed by the passion and conviction with which Ms Tshireletso addressed issues relating to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-gender and Intersex (LGBTI) community.

She said Ms Tshireletso was vocal on the need to ensure that the LGBTI community did not continue to get pushed to the periphery of society.

Ms Lindsey noted that she had similarly loved the role that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development had played by relentlessly pushing for the enactment of the Children’s Act, labelling the law a ground-breaking piece of legislation.

She observed that the former MP, who is Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, had been among the influential figures who had pushed for the particular law.

Speaking on behalf of Ntlo ya Dikgosi members, Balete chief, Kgosi Mosadi hailed Ms Tshireletso for her good deeds, particularly with respect to the development of the bogosi (chieftainship) institution.

Kgosi Mosadi, who noted that dikgosi viewed Ms Tshireletso as one of their own due to her always being in the house during its  sittings, said the outgoing MP had also been instrumental on issues of gender equality.

Like others, former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) chairman and party stalwart, Mr Daniel Kwelagobe sang Ms Tshireletso’s praises.

He said Ms Tshireletso was, together with the likes of Mr Pono Moatlhodi, Messrs Pelokgale Seloma and Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri, both deceased, among the young people who made up the BDP youth wing way when it was first established in 1977.

That youth wing, Mr Kwelagobe explained, was to later prove integral to BDP’s efforts to grow as it was relentless in its country-wide tours whose purpose was to attract new members into the party. He said during her time in the youth wing, Ms Tshireletso was a valuable asset, adding that the fund-raising portfolio that she held saw the party youth undertaking major projects such as raising funds for the party and building shelter for the under-privileged.

Mr Kwelagobe said it was that same youth committee that started the BDP’s choir competitions that continue to date. On a lighter note, Kgosi Tshipe Tshipe of Mahalapye described Ms Tshireletso as someone who would give her all to get whatever she wanted.

“E ne e re ha a batla sengwe a sa se bone a thubege ka selelo, (when she didnt get what she wanted, she would burst into tears)” shared Kgosi Tshipe to the amusement of guests.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Ms Ruth Maphorisa, who said she had known Ms Tshireletso since 1992 during her formative years in the public service, said in an apparent demonstration of the good outcomes her ministry was achieving in its objective to empower disadvantaged communities, the assistant minister once brought rabbits in a cage and a miniature coffin to a cabinet meeting.

Dr Dow had earlier also shared who Ms Tshireletso had once, towards the end of a cabinet meeting, pleaded with the president to allow her to bring in a group of people who wanted to see him. After successfully persuading the president, Ms Tshireletso had walked out and after a short while retured with a troop of young ladies following behind whom she introduced as Miss RADP contestants.

Following the speeches, Ms Tshireletso thanked her children and their friends for organising the lunch.

Her children, she said, were a source of pride as they had grown up to be responsible members of society despite not having fully enjoyed the love of a mother during their upbringing due to her taxing career as a politician.

She also thanked everyone she had worked with, saying the many achievements she had under her belt were a result of the support she enjoyed from colleagues with during the course of her career.

Ms Tshireletso paid tribute to opposition politicians, who she said also played a role in making her the politician of note that she had come to be known as. ENDS