28 Jan 2014

Former Bobirwa MP, Mr Walter Mosweu, died on January 25 after a long illness.

Mr Mosweu (83) was the third Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) MP for Bobirwa constituency after Messrs Archeus Tsoebebe and Adel Sikunyane and he represented the constituency from 1979 to 1989.

One of his sons and a family spokesperson, Mr Otsogile Mosweu, said in an interview that before joining politics, Mr Mosweu was a teacher and later became a chief education secretary and worked in Serowe, Molepolole and Selebi Phikwe.

He said during his tenure as an area representative, Mr Mosweu advocated for development projects such as the construction of a bridge across Motloutse River.

Mr James Maruatona, another former MP for Bobirwa, who took over from Mr Mosweu in 1989, stated that his predecessor’s tenure was marred with challenges of lack of development when the state of the roads was appalling but Mr Mosweu was relentless in his advocacy.

Mr Maruatona said during the early years of independence, lawmakers were appointed by the BDP party president and were endorsed by the electorates during the general elections.

However, Mr Mosweu was among the first crop of BDP representatives who went to Parliament through the party’s electoral college.

He said Mr Mosweu was favoured to take over after constituents advocated for a local representation because Messrs Tsoebebe and Sikunyane were from Mahalapye and Serowe respectively and were handpicked and endorsed by electorates during general elections to represent the Bobirwa constituency.

Another interviewee, Bobirwa Sub-council chairman, Mr Ishmael Legwaila, credited Mr Mosweu for advocating for a number of projects. He credited the late MP for the construction of Matshekge Senior Secondary School and for the transformation of a privately owned Bobonong Continuation Classes into a government-owned Bobonong Junior Secondary School.

Mr Legwaila said Mr Mosweu’s term as MP was challenging because Botswana had a small budget for development projects but did not back down to advocate for development for the constituency hence roads were made traversable.

He described Mr Mosweu as an energetic educationist who became a school head when schools were headed by Zimbabweans and South Africans and was sent to England for management courses.

He added that after his retirement from Parliament, the late Mr Mosweu remained influential in the BDP politics where he held various party positions. Mr Mosweu was also a businessman.

The former long-time secretary general of the BDP, Mr Daniel Kwelagobe, said Mr Mosweu was outstanding and brave in his legislative advocacy. ENDS