Saleshando’s quest for the state house
Spira Tlhankane | Monday May 20, 2024 08:28
Personal life
Saleshando, born on September 13, 1971, is a weathered politician and current Member of Parliament (MP) for Maun West. He grew up primarily in Selebi-Phikwe and his father, Gilson Saleshando, served both as a passionate politician and a pastor for the Seventh Day Adventist Church. His mother, Keatlaretse Dolly Saleshando, dedicated herself to public service within the health sector. Saleshando attended Kopano Primary School before completing his high school education at St Joseph’s College in Kgale.
He pursued a double major degree in Political Science and Economics at the University of Botswana (UB) and briefly worked in the banking sector before dedicating himself to full-time politics. Saleshando is wedded to Dineo Saleshando, who has had an illustrious career as a banker. Together, they are parents to three children: two sons, Loago (21 years) and Seabo (17 years), and a daughter named Remmone (13 years).
Enter the Dragon
The late martial artist and actor Bruce Lee exploded onto the screen in the 1973 film ‘Enter the Dragon’ and it rocketed him to international superstardom. Same as Lee, the young Saleshando emerged on the biggest stage in the 2004 General Election where he defied the odds and beat the then incumbent legislator for Gaborone Central, Margaret Nasha, of the Botswana for Democratic Party (BDP) in what was a David vs Goliath encounter. After writing his name in the annals of history with the upset victory, Saleshando never looked back and nobody thought that he would later become the president of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and lead them to a second election as a presidential candidate in 2024.
Speaking of presidential aspirations, Saleshando, who is now switching from Maun West to Maun North following the delimitation exercise, says he is contesting for an MP seat because the only way Batswana could choose their preferred President is through MPs since there is no direct election of the president.
He says the fact that Batswana’s quest to have a direct election of the president was rejected by the Presidential Commission of inquiry into the Review of the Constitution should not deter them from making their choice. Back in 2004, it would have been easy to dismiss an inexperienced Saleshando if it were not for the fact that he possessed formidable debating skills needed for a legislator. He was elected the then youngest MP at the age of 33 and there was quite none like him. It was also not easy to dismiss him because he was the son of Gilson, the former MP and president of the BCP, a man whom he took the baton from in 2010. Saleshando took over the presidency from his father in 2010 exactly a year after he defended his Gaborone Central MP seat.
2014 lossSaleshando, who traces his venture into politics back to his university years, didn’t have a smooth journey in politics. After his party abandoned the opposition talks in 2014, the lime movement performed badly in the election and Saleshando himself suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC)’s Phenyo Butale, in what was a shock to many. Saleshando recently reflected on the loss saying it was “suitable”. The Maun West legislator said God allowed him to lose the 2014 General Election for a taste of defeat. “The same way God decided to let his son Jesus taste death, I also went through the same as God allowed me to lose elections for the first time. Some say it was a bad time for me, but I differ. It was a suitable time because God wanted me to learn. I want to thank him for caring for me all these years,” the former UDC vice president said. Conversely, Saleshando and company learnt from the 2014 debacle and returned to the UDC table. They decided to join the coalition, which consisted of the Botswana National Front (BNF) and the Botswana People’s Party (BPP). Saleshando decided to play second fiddle to the UDC president Duma Boko and switched constituencies from the urbane Gaborone Central voters to Maun West where he emerged victorious.
After his return to Parliament following a five-year hiatus, in 2020 Saleshando compared himself to Biden who was then the Presidential Candidate for the US elections. He said Biden’s loss in the 1988 primaries was compared to his own political journey. “Unlike Biden, I lost my seat after only two terms. Many people wrote my political obituary as a bounce back seemed impossible. I remember addressing a BCP election evaluation meeting in Palapye and advising comrades that we have not been defeated, but only face a “Detour” road sign. The detour sign forces you out of the main road for a short but uncomfortable side road. The time to re-join the main highway will come,” he indicated.
Fall out with UDC, Boko
Saleshando entered the UDC knowing very well that he harbours the ambition of also leading the coalition, but so he thought. The cracks in his relationship with Boko started showing right after the election when he attended President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s inauguration at the same time Boko was mounting election petitions.
Boko and the UDC’s delay in holding UDC’s first-ever elective congress stalled and Saleshando said the BNF should not be the natural coalition leader as it had become the norm.
Saleshando, who is known for being bold in Parliament, could not hide his frustrations anymore and in 2021 he told the media that the umbrella is wrecked. He was slammed for washing the UDC’s dirty linen in public but still, he went on to meet with Boko and other UDC leaders in Palapye where they tried to fix the leaking umbrella.
The coalition cracked further in 2022 when the fracas for the Bophirima ward in the Gaborone Bonnington South raged on as the Saleshando-led BCP took a decision to field its preferred candidate in the by-election. The BCP secretary-general (SG), Goretetse Kekgonegile and Saleshando indicated that there was no governance at the UDC, a matter which eventually got them suspended from the UDC.
Losing LoO and control of MPs
Saleshando’s suspension from the UDC tested his leadership and he began losing control of some of his legislators in Parliament. Out of 10, five betrayed him and were part of the caucus that removed him from his Leader of Opposition (LoO) position in Parliament. The main betrayal of them all was Selebi-Phikwe West MP, Dithapelo Keorapetse, who later took over the position. From there it went further south and instead of reconciliation, the BCP national conference expelled the quintet as Saleshando lost control of the legislators’ situation.
Although he managed to win back Okavango’s Kenny Kapinga, it meant that the BCP had to start finding replacements in the four constituencies. Moreover, losing the LoO position meant that he was no longer the official spokesperson of the majority opposition party in Parliament, something he was not accustomed to. Remember, he previously held the position in the 10th Parliament.
From there Saleshando began a political rally shouting match with Boko and the tension later turned to a personal grudge. It was a grudge because Boko felt that Saleshando had betrayed him when the duo met ahead of the BCP’s national conference in 2022. Boko thought he would iron out his issues with Saleshando only for the latter to go behind his back and participate in the expulsion of Keorapetse and co.
Life after UDC, brief AP romance Right after dumping Boko, Saleshando began a bromance with the Alliance for Progressives (AP) leader Ndaba Gaolathe and described the union as a ‘partnership of likeminded parties’. The two cooperated in various by-elections which they lost to the UDC. Official talks began as they sought to cooperate for the 2024 General Election.
Constituency talks stalled for four months as the AP and the BCP were deadlocked over seven constituencies. Another promising relationship collapsed as Gaolathe opted a return to Boko’s UDC instead of seeking a compromise with Saleshando. Once again Saleshando could not keep another opposition leader as the two failed to compromise when the matter was referred to them to break the deadlock.
Saleshando had to settle for the newly formed Botswana Labour Party (BLP) which could not do much to the partnership because of no footprint in many constituencies. Critics said Saleshando was anti-regime change looking at his history when it comes to opposition cooperation. Some said he was aligned with the BDP where he gets government tenders but he rubbished the reports. To prove this, Saleshando even posed a question in Parliament where government revealed companies and people who have benefited from the controversial police uniform tenders.
Soldiering on, election fast modeSaleshando did not have time to mope over failed partnerships, he chose to soldier on and get his party ready for the October polls. The BCP held primary elections earlier than any other party using that as a selling point. The BCP under Saleshando is also on a mission as it continues to launch manifesto chapters. Saleshando is also leading a campaign where he continues to launch party candidates for the General Election. So far they confirmed 54 candidates as the party targets 31 MPs seats. Saleshando says his party plans to close the gender gap in political participation and representation as an effort to propel more women into Parliament. They have fielded five women candidates including their biggest catch, Specially Elected Member of the Parliament (SEMP), Unity Dow. Saleshando also appointed a woman, veteran and former party chairperson, Motsei Rapelana, as the BCP campaign manager for this year’s general election.
Saleshando says he is more confident because the political ground is more fertile than ever. Currently, their main rivals, the BDP, are battling primaries’ demons while the UDC’s centre cannot hold because of disgruntled coalition partners. Saleshando highlighted that they are the only party which is ready for the General Election assignment. “We are the only party that has made headway to prepare for the polls. We are the only party that has completed the candidate selection process. We are the only party that has initiated the process of coming up with a manifesto for the election by launching different chapters so Batswana know what to expect from the BCP,” he said.
Eyes on the State HouseWhen he was launched as the BCP presidential candidate last month, Saleshando returned to Gaborone Central for his launch and indicated that it was not about an attachment to his former constituency but because the latter houses the State House, his main target.
He presents himself as the saviour and feels that sitting on the big chair post-October is the only alternative for Batswana who want their lives improved.
“My political journey, from a young student political volunteer to a legislator who can effectively represent diverse constituents, to a leader of a fast-growing and most stable political party, point to a passion-driven politician ready to serve in the highest office of the land.
I lead a Party with a plan that will turn the economy of the country around, delivering jobs that pay a decent wage to the unemployed. You can trust our plan to open doors for everyone rather than a privileged few,” Saleshando says in his campaign message.