08 Jan 2021

Former Gaborone North legislator, Mr Michael “Kelebogile” Mzwinila has died at the age of 65.

Confirming his passing, the deceased’s elder brother, Mr Maurice Mzwinila told BOPA in an interview that Mr Mzwinila died in Lundazi district hospital in Zambia on January 5  where he was hospitalised after contracting Malaria.

The deceased who was affectionately known as 'Zwiniboy' is said to have left Botswana to Zambia on a business mission on December 29 last year.

The elder Mzwinila explained that before passing-on, the deceased was in and out of the hospital.

He also said that the arrangements to repatriate the body back to Botswana for burial were ongoing.

In his message of condolences, BNF Information and Publicity Secretary, Mr Justin Hunyepa said the party has received the sad news of the passing on of its former firebrand and former MP for Gaborone North and Tonota parliamentary candidate.

He explained that the late Mzwinila also served as a member of the BNF central committee as well as the Ways and Means sub-committee of the treasury office.

“He contributed to the rich Botswana National Front (BNF) political literature during his time as a party cadre,” he added.

Mr Hunyepa said the late Mzwinila will be remembered as a brave political activist who did not disappoint his constituents. At one point, he protested and stood in front of a raging bulldozer in Sebele where his constituents’ illegal homes were facing demolition.

“President Duma Boko, his central committee and the general membership send their heartfelt condolences to the Mzwinila family,” concludes the message.

Meanwhile, retired Kgosi Ramosinyi Radipitse of Tonota has described the late Mzwinila as a person who loved people and was a jolly at all times.

He said he came to know the late Mzwinila through the deceased father who was a family friend to the royal family.

According to the retired Kgosi, the demise of Mr Mzwinila was a great loss not only to his family but to the entire nation.

The late Mzwinila was the second born child of Mr Daniel Mzwinila and Ms Joyce Mzwinila in a family of eight children, three boys and five girls. He started his primary education at Nyangabgwe primary school in Francistown before he proceeded to St. Joseph’s College in Gaborone to do his Cambridge. The late BNF firebrand would thereafter pursue further learning at various institutions of higher learning that include University of Botswana and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical university in Florida in the United States of America.

He has worked for the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and was one of the first batch of BDF captain soldiers to become a pilot in 1979.

It was during his reign as a pilot that he sustained an injury following a plane crash and lost his right hand.

He also worked for Civil Aviation Department and became the first Airport Manager for the then Sir Seretse Khama Airport in Gaborone before he resigned and went into private business.

Whilst in private business, the late Mzwinila developed interest in politics and joined the opposition Botswana National Front (BNF).

He was elected Member of Parliament for Gaborone North constituency under the Botswana National Front(BNF) ticket from 1999 until 2004.

He then relocated to his home village of Tonota where he represented the party in 2004 and 2009 elections but lost to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) but BNF managed to win three council wards for the first time in those elections.

The staunch politician will be buried in his home village of Tonota were he was born at a date to be announced after repatriation. Ends