‘Mango’ case sours Moatlhodi’s Speaker ambition
Spira Tlhankane | Tuesday August 13, 2024 08:45
The case involves Moatlhodi, two others and a tree which produces mangoes. The mango fruit is considered to be a sacred fruit because Buddha himself is said to have meditated under the cool shade of a mango tree. But, there is a pending court case about Moatlhodi and the mango tree, a tale his colleagues in Parliament often joke about in the House. Except this is no joke, a minor was allegedly assaulted and a mango itself is regarded as a fruit of profound religious and cultural significance in Buddhism.
Termed the ‘Mango case’, the possible acidity outcome of the case could sour the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly’s delicious sweet return to the House as Speaker in the 13th Parliament. Moatlhodi did not participate in the recent Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primary elections and will not seek re-election in Tonota because he is eyeing the Speaker’s position, which is currently held by Phandu Skelemani. But temperatures changed this week when it was revealed that the case, which some thought had died following Moatlhodi’s defection to the BDP in 2021 will return for trial in November, right after the elections. The outgoing legislator alongside Maranyane Kebitsang and Nnyana Kebitsang are accused of acting in concert to assault a 12-year-old in Tonota on January 30, 2019. It is said that the minor incurred the wrath of the accused after he allegedly stole some mangoes from the Kebitsangs homestead. One of the accused, Maranyane, has since died. The accused are alleged to have thereafter unleashed a vicious dog to bite the child, causing him puncture wounds and bruises on his face and body contrary to the Children’s Act.
At some point, before the case proceeded to trial, the prosecution and defence were said to be exploring the issue of a possible reconciliation. It was initially agreed that Moatlhodi and co. should compensate the complainant with P40,000 for charges against them to be stayed. This failed reconciliation is what caused confusion that the case was dead when the outspoken legislator landed on the BDP ship. Speaking of the BDP, the ruling party had welcomed Moatlhodi with open arms despite the pending case in the courts of law. In July 2021, they even rewarded him with the Deputy Speakership when the then-deputy speaker, and Mochudi East MP, Mabuse Pule, was sworn in as the new Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. Moatlhodi was put back into the position he once held during former president Ian Khama’s administration.
Before leaving the UDC, Moatlhodi had fallen out with the former Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) vice president Dumelang Saleshando. Following this, he was suspended from the position of Opposition Chief Whip because of the pending ‘Mango’ case at the Francistown High Court. Moatlhodi did not resolve the feud, instead opted to re-join the BDP. Looking back, he served as a BDP MP between 2004 and 2014. After losing the BDP primaries to Thapelo Olopeng in the BDP primaries in 2014, Moatlhodi later defected to join the Botswana National Front (BNF). Moatlhodi had served the ruling party for over 39 years and his defection on the eve of the 2014 General Election threw a spanner in the works at the constituency, which was at the time called Tonota South.
Before Moatlhodi came into the picture, the BNF, a UDC founding member, had assigned Maokaneng Bontshetse the constituency candidature but the latter was sacrificed to make way for Moatlhodi. Moatlhodi and Olopeng’s rematch was confirmed for the 2014 General Election but it was the latter that yet again beat the former by securing 7, 013 votes while Moatlhodi got 5, 179 votes. Moatlhodi spent five years bidding time and re-emerged in the 2019 General Election still under the UDC.
In his third attempt, Moatlhodi finally managed to beat Olopeng in what was a shock loss for the latter. Moatlhodi had secured 8, 364 votes while Olopeng came behind with 7, 125 votes. With his signature line ‘Motlotlegi Motsamaisa Dipuisanyo tsa Palamente’ as he refers to the Speaker, Moatlhodi presented himself like a man who had missed the thrill of Parliament. As he nears his last term as MP for Tonota, he knows that if he is convicted in the ‘Mango’ case then his chances to return as Speaker will end.
His three terms as MP over a 20-year period is surely a milestone but his journey just like the one of a mango, from seed to fruit, is an odyssey of impressive magnitude. A mango tree is evergreen but an orchard of challenges awaits the Deputy Speaker when the case returns for trial on November 20 and 21.