Facebook Feed

  • Skelemani mishandled Kgosi Mosadi Pan African Parliament furoreMarch 22, 2023
    Adam Phetlhe The ravaging inferno sparked by the purported resignation of Kgosi Mosadi Seboko from the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is fuelled by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Phandu Skelemani mishandling the matter. Had he performed due diligence on […]
  • Ithuba to roll-out LottoMarch 22, 2023
    STAFF WRITERS editors@thepatriot.co.bw Ithuba Solutions Botswana is waiting with bated breath for an announcement on the issuance of a lottery license, by the Gambling Authority, following the successful conclusion of negotiations in December 2022, The Patriot on Sunday has […]
  • BDP rejects Living WageMarch 22, 2023
    BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw Ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) MPs on Friday defeated the motion proposed by MP for Nkange constituency Dr Never Tshabang, proposing for government to introduce a living wage, which will be adjusted according to the cost […]
  • Uganda passes a law making it a crime to identify as LGBTQMarch 22, 2023
    Report by Elias Biryabarema Reuters Uganda’s parliament passed a law on Tuesday making it a crime to identify as LGBTQ, handing authorities broad powers to target gay Ugandans who already face legal discrimination and mob violence. More than 30 […]
  • Ian Khama to receive African Icon Award  March 22, 2023
    KT Press Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will headline other African greats who are set to be honoured at the maiden edition of The African Heritage Concert and Awards slated to hold in Kigali, Rwanda on April […]
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
Monday, March 27, 2023
17 °c
Gaborone
21 ° Tue
22 ° Wed
24 ° Thu
26 ° Fri
The Patriot On Sunday
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
Cart / $0.00

No products in the cart.

  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
The Patriot On Sunday
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Moatlhodi, Masisi ‘link’ unsettles UDC comrades

patriot by patriot
January 16, 2021
in News
237 15
0
Moatlhodi, Masisi ‘link’ unsettles UDC comrades
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
ShareShareShare

Maverick Tonota MP, Pono PPP Moatlhodi, has already set Parliament ablaze with his theatrics long before his colleagues -a majority of whom are newcomers- settle into their seats across the aisle. 

The controversial figure that he is, on Tuesday Moatlhodi, who has been appointed Opposition Whip, caught his fellow Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) legislators off-guard when he nominated himself for the position of deputy Speaker, a position he held in the 10th parliament. He would later withdraw after he failed to garner enough support from his colleagues, and later explained that the decision to withdraw was taken by the collective. Defending his move, Moatlhodi in his true element of speaking with intensity with protruding eyes said he is an experienced legislature who qualifies to serve in the post as he has done before.

“I have to respect the decision of our caucus but everyone knows that I am capable of doing exceptionally well as deputy speaker,” he chuckled.

Ironically, but perhaps inevitably, since the opening of Parliament Moatlhodi has been frequenting the seat of President Mokgweetsi Masisi, something that does not to sit well with his colleagues at UDC. “I have long maintained a cordial relationship with Rre Masisi and my presence at UDC does not deter me from interacting with him. I was a passionately close to his late brother (former Francistown West MP Tshelang Masisi)! I don’t know why people should jump out of their skin when I approach President Masisi,” he hit out in true element of playing with flowery words.

Asked if his close association with President Masisi might cause tension between him and his colleagues at UDC, he threw his hands in the air and said in Ikalanga ‘Aba iyende ko chena!’. His colleagues in the UDC will have to adapt to his behavior because he is not pretentious and can speak his mind defying the philosophical theories of the political organization.

Botate, as he has become popularly known, has made a dramatic return to Parliament where he arrived in his usual style of dancing and using deep Setswana words. His political nemesis call him a foolhardy politician prone to whimsical decisions and impulsive thinking but that is the brand of politics which has made him popular among the voters.

Dressed in his baggy suits, the theatrical Tonota MP entered Parliament in style amid fanfare and ululations from the public gallery as he blew kisses to them. When the acting speaker Kagiso Molatlhegi asked for someone to lead the House with a prayer Moatlhodi’s microphone was immediately switched red. A tingle of anticipation engulfed the House as everyone wonderered what he was going to say to God.

Questions lingered on everyone’s mind, ‘will he roll on the parliamentary floor and cry, or will he raise his hands and pray like Pentecostal pastors with high pitched voice’? He did none. These lingering questions were prompted by the fact he has the ability to disrupt earnest protocols of office. This time he was at his best behavior as he recited a very short prayer though laced with comical solemnity.

Ahead of the highly contested 2019 general elections, many believed that Moatlhodi was a spent force and that Thapelo Olopeng of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)  was  to have the easiest passage back to Parliament.

The outspoken and dramatic Moatlhodi not only thrashed Olopeng at the polls but halted his political career sending political shockwaves across the country. The free and fearless Moatlhodi didn’t win by a fluke but garnered 8364 with Olopeng trailing behind with 7125, a margin of over 1000 votes. After the win he will jokingly said ‘ke mo debotse ! (I have beaten him)’ bursting into laughter.

The 2019 showed that the Botswana’s political landscape is highly unpredictable making it difficult to write off any political figure. 2019 has revived the then dwindling political fortunes of Moatlhodi who was regarded as political underdog and precipitated the downfall of Olopeng. Botate was humbled by Olopeng in 2013 when he beat him in the BDP primaries and later in the general elections after he defected to Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Many thought that was the end of his political career.

Now back on top of political game, Moatlhodi has shown that he is a political cat with nine lives and in 2014 he vowed that he will never quit politics as it is part of his DNA. Botate’s win could be attributed to his attachment to grassroots politics and his pragmatic approach to issues in his constituency.

Never fearing speaking his mind which in the past has put in trouble with authority, on Tuesday he took a swipe at Members of Parliament who went out during the voting session of the speaker of the national assembly calling their behavior that of school boys and girls. In 2008 BDP recalled him after he accused the then president Ian Khama of militarizing the public service but due to the support from his constituency the decision was abandoned.

Related

Tags: masisiMoatlhodiudc

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe
  • Skelemani mishandled Kgosi Mosadi Pan African Parliament furoreMarch 22, 2023
    Adam Phetlhe The ravaging inferno sparked by the purported resignation of Kgosi Mosadi Seboko from the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is fuelled by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Phandu Skelemani mishandling the matter. Had he performed due diligence on […]
  • Ithuba to roll-out LottoMarch 22, 2023
    STAFF WRITERS editors@thepatriot.co.bw Ithuba Solutions Botswana is waiting with bated breath for an announcement on the issuance of a lottery license, by the Gambling Authority, following the successful conclusion of negotiations in December 2022, The Patriot on Sunday has […]
  • BDP rejects Living WageMarch 22, 2023
    BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw Ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) MPs on Friday defeated the motion proposed by MP for Nkange constituency Dr Never Tshabang, proposing for government to introduce a living wage, which will be adjusted according to the cost […]
  • Uganda passes a law making it a crime to identify as LGBTQMarch 22, 2023
    Report by Elias Biryabarema Reuters Uganda’s parliament passed a law on Tuesday making it a crime to identify as LGBTQ, handing authorities broad powers to target gay Ugandans who already face legal discrimination and mob violence. More than 30 […]
  • Ian Khama to receive African Icon Award  March 22, 2023
    KT Press Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will headline other African greats who are set to be honoured at the maiden edition of The African Heritage Concert and Awards slated to hold in Kigali, Rwanda on April […]
The Patriot On Sunday

© 2022 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders

© 2022 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?