Pickings from the 13th Parliament

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Wednesday November 6, 2024 09:50

Lastborn

Whilst former Member of Parliament for Molepolole and veteran politician, Daniel Kwelagobe still holds the record for the youngest elected MP, having achieved that feat in 1969 when he was elected MP for Molepolole aged 26 years, this year’s title of the youngest legislator belongs to Jacob Kelebeng. The incoming legislator for Takatokwane, Kelebeng, is the youngest MP elected to Parliament during the just-ended election at the age of 35. He was born on January 6, 1989. Kelebeng is a former Alliance for Progressives (AP) Youth League president and has also served as the University of Botswana (UB) Student Representative Council president on two occasions. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from UB and is a final year student studying for a Master of Arts in Politics and International Relations.

Firstborn

This one is between Member of Parliament for Gaborone North, Shawn Ntlhaile and Kgalagadi South legislator, Micus Chimbombi. The latter is a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, who left the ministry after he was relieved of his duties just five months into his three-year contract in 2015. Ntlhaile is making a return to the 13th Parliament after missing out on the previous one. Longest serving Francistown South MP, Wynter Mmolotsi has been in Parliament since 2009, making this his fourth term, 20 years as a legislator. He first won the election on the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) ticket, then with the UDC during his time with Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD). In 2019, he became the only MP from his party, the Alliance for Progressives (AP) to win a parliamentary seat. Mmolotsi shares this one with Botswana Congress Party (BCP) president, Dumelang Saleshando who is making a consecutive return to Parliament. He first became an MP in 2004. He was re-elected as a Member of Parliament for the same constituency in the 2009 General Election. He lost the elections in the 2014 polls to Phenyo Butale of the coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change under the BMD.

The returnees S

ixteen MPs have made a return in the 13th Parliament from the previous Parliament. These include the UDC quartet of Mmolotsi, David Tshere of Mahalapye West, Palapye MP Onneetse Ramogapi, and Ignatius Moswaane of Francistown West. BCP MPs led by their president, Saleshando of Maun North, Taolo Lucas (Bobonong), Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang (Tswapong South), and Unity Dow of Kgatleng West. There is also the BDP’s quartet of Karabo Gare of Moshupa-Manyana, Kagiso Mmusi of Gabane-Mmankgodi, Palelo Motaosane of Thamaga-Kumakwane, and Mabuse Pule of Kgatleng East. Former Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti who contested the elections as an independent candidate is amongst those returning to the 13th Parliament. From the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) are Serowe North, Baratiwa Mathoothe; Serowe West, Onalepelo Kedikilwe; Serowe South, the incumbent Lesedi Leepetswe.