Why Motswaledi family supports AP

Ndaba was a true friend, he walked with Sir G in every circumstance 

The family of the late Gomolemo Motswaledi has not shied away from declaring its allegiance to the newly-formed political party - Alliance for Progressives (AP) - which is a breakaway of Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD).

Motswaledi helped to form BMD after breaking away from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). Family representative Gape Motswaledi was excited to lay bare the kind of friendship which existed between his late brother and the current AP president Ndaba Gaolathe which he described as more than friendship since it extended to other family members hence their decision to follow AP.

“Ndaba was a true friend because Sir G to him was not just a label he pepped around for the course to propel his mission, he walked with Sir G in every circumstance; music, church, sport and ultimately pursuit for justice which landed them in politics. Ndaba was encouraged or coerced – one between the two or both, to take absolute leadership in politics by Sir G,” Motswaledi explained. He continued that although he probably will never know the real genesis of BMD problems nor when they started, but when it started playing itself out in public, he knew that a new chapter was being written.

“There was much that was cryptic about the issues that culminated in the split, more than met the eye I would say and more protagonists in the drama than perceivable. One thing I can tell you, people need their vehicle on the road, in the right direction and moving at the right speed. “All opposition parties need one another all pressure groups need one another. AP needs UDC – not UDC as a name but as an entity with a heartbeat.

I think as AP is being birthed, UDC needs to check its pulse as well,” he advised. Despite his family having decided to join AP, he pointed out that there is only one prominent BDP member that he can single out for special mention when it comes to being a true friend through all circumstances faced by his late brother. It was Modisakgotla Makwati, then councilor for Sunnyside, Serowe South. When all former friends bailed out on Sir G and became shy or intimidated to be seen with him, Makwati was never cowed into deserting his longtime friend. His children also had a special bond with Sir G. Other former BDP friends preferred to offer him assistance under the table and to meet with him ‘Nicodemusly’. “Sir G became ostracised, deserted and exiled spiritually from his land, not by those he differed with but by those who hunkered down at the height of his problems – I hope they sleep well,” Motswaledi concluded.