22 Dec 2023

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members have been urged to work for the party with honesty and for those who lose primary elections to avoid fights.

Speaking during a memorial service of former Moshupa West councillor, Mr Edwin Kelobang in Moshupa on Thursday, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi advised democrats to follow on Mr Kelobang’s footsteps as he truthfully worked for the party and the country.

He highlighted that he also learnt a lot from him, adding that he was an honest individual, who cared about other people’s feelings. Mr Kelobang, he said, was also a clean, smart and decent person and a notable leader everywhere; at work, home as well as social gatherings.

He appealed to BDP members to choose leaders taking into consideration their qualities, not how they relate to them. “Let us chose leaders who will positively contribute to the party and the country. We have a lot of capable individuals in the party,” he said. Dr Masisi urged Mr Kelobang’s family to continue the good work their father did for the country.

He urged members to respect party rules by living the principle and values of the BDP.

Area MP, Mr Karabo Gare thanked Dr Masisi for attending the memorial ceremony as well as for a word of encouragement for democrats to diligently work for the party. He further urged members to respect and uphold the party’s constitution, adding, ‘if you fail to uphold the party’s constitution, how are you going to lead people if you aspire for political office’.

Moshupa North councillor, Mr Mothibedi Golekanye said the event was meant to celebrate a hero’s life, who contributed a lot to the development of the country. He described the late as a hard worker, who was loving and decent.

Mr Kelobang’s daughter, Ms Phatsimo Seema promised that the family would continue the good work, where their father left. “I wish other leaders would also follow on his footsteps, by working hard for the country,” she said. She said her father was an intelligent and strong-willed individual, who instilled good values on them.

Other speakers who took turns to the podium highlighted that Mr Kelobang was a hard worker, down to earth individual, a unifying figure who prioritised the party over himself. 

Mr Kelobang was Moshupa West councillor from 1999 to 2009, after retiring as a director of Budget Administration at the then Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. He died August, 2023. Ends