Parliament swimmer speaks :: Mmegi Online

While on social media he has been described as a ‘hero’ and ‘bosso’ who has pulled off the stunt of the year, on closer inspection the man dubbed the Parliament Swimmer is a man with a mental illness and is crying out for help.

His name is David Petagano Samolao (30). We met on the corner of Independence Avenue and Kaunda Road in Gaborone central. I recognised him from the Facebook pictures so I slowed down the car, rolled down the window and said,“Eita”. He excitedly greeted me back and opened the passenger’s door and got in the car before I even invited him in. I did not protest but asked him where he was going, offering to drop him off. He told me he was just “going” so I joined him and just drove off aimlessly.

“Kana monna ga gona ope yo o kileng a dira jalo” (no one ever did that) He blurted out, without being questioned, before switching to English, “I am the first Motswana to ever do that.” Samolao was aware of his recent fame.

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