26 Jan 2021

 Kgosi Daniel Mathiba of Mmathethe has become one of the victims of the raging coronavirus in Botswana. 

Confirming Kgosi Mathiba’s demise in an interview with BOPA yesterday, son Thabo revealed that his father succumbed to coronavirus related complications at the Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital on Sunday. 

In another interview, his deputy Kgosi Reuben Mosala said the nation had lost a peerless nation builder who left no stone unturned in the development of his area, district and the nation at large.

He described Kgosi Mathiba’s death as a blow to the nation after a glittering career that spanned 33 years. 

Kgosi Mosala said his deceased superior’s dying wish was to someday rebuild the Mmathethe kgotla shelter that was gutted down by fire, bigger and better.

Former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Peter Siele said news of Kgosi Mathiba’s passing left him speechless.

Mr Siele remembers Kgosi Mathiba as a patriarch and visionary leader who served the nation the best he knew how.

The former minister said Kgosi Mathiba was a courageous leader who never shied away from speaking his mind especially on issues of community development. 

Among others, he said Kgosi Mathiba was very instrumental in advising government on the abuse of homemade alcoholic beverages saying the nation was under siege from the proliferation of the substances.

Mr Siele also described the deceased as a hard worker and big food producer.

“We have lost a giant of a man, no amount of words can describe how we feel now,” he said.

Kgosi Mathiba leaves behind his widow, 10 children and 11 grandchildren. ends