Motshegwa, Mzwinila fight gets nasty
A political fight is brewing at Mmadinare Constituency over a project which was recently unveiled by President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
The Mmadinare Leobo la Kgotla has sparked controversy as Specially-Elected Member of Parliament and Minister of Lands and Water Affairs, Dr. Kefentse Mzwinila has been accused of trying to leverage his political career on the project.
Botswana National Front (BNF) Secretary General, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa who indicated that he is representing concerned residents of Mmadinare said the minister had no input in the project.
“The truth of the matter is that, “Leobo la Mmadinare” was sponsored and constructed by the people of Mmadinare coordinated through “Leobo Committee”. The people of Mmadinare in their patriotism, social responsibility, sacrificed, volunteered their resources for this historic, symbolic and monumental project. They resembled and exhibited great spirit of sheer dedication, self-reliance, community-based development”, Motshegwa said.
He said Dr Mzwinila merely contributed some chairs for the official opening ceremony of Leobo. He argued that many other people in the village made contributions towards the official opening ceremony, but have not gone out to gloat and swagger about it, because they were doing it on goodwill, sowing a generational seed of self-reliance. So, contribution of chairs and construction are utterly two different things, according to Motshegwa.
Dr. Mzwinila hit back at Motshegwa who he accused of being a self-appointed spokesperson of the imaginary concerned residents. The minister stated that he has championed this project at the time when he was the area MP.
“I never said I solely built it but I have contributed immensely. The same BNF secretary general has never made any contribution. At the time of my incumbency other than monetary terms this is one of the projects I pushed for to come to reality. This is because I could not just sit when I saw that there is such a need.
“The same Motshegwa I see in the media ridiculing but we all know that he is only pushing his own narrative. This is because he might find himself seeking political office through Mmnadinare, as opposed to Gaborone where he lost dismally during the 2019 general elections”, Dr Mzwinila lashed out.
He argued that having worked with various community structures in Mmadinare there is no how he could use community projects for political mileage. He said if there is anyone exploiting the people of Mmadinare for political gain it is Motshegwa.
Motshegwa had stated that the sweat, zealous and spirited work of Mmadinare people should not be exploited for political expediency and opportunism, misplaced self-praise, as it is crystal clear that there is a deliberate immoral motive to milk mileage from the hard work of the people of Mmadinare.