Africa-Press – Botswana. Activists across the political divide gathered in Kanye to pay tribute to the former Botswana Congress Party (BCP) President and also Former Member of Parliament for Lobatse, Mr Otlaadisa Koosaletse, who passed away last week.
The memorial service, organised by Botswana National Front, comprised speakers who took mourners down memory lane of the lost giant, who will be buried on August 19.
In his remarks, UDC President, Duma Boko described Koosaletse as an exemplary patriot to the party, and a true champion in upholding the party values and keen on bettering the lives of Batswana.
In recognition of such, he therefore implored his congressmen to emulate Mr Koosaletse with the view to ensuring that they become selfless and remain unselfish in performing function needed for the best interests of the party.
“I wish to challenge all of you to emulate Mr Koosaletse and also dedicate yourselves as true patriots to the party so as to enable our success in future,” he said. He described the late Koosaletse as an incredible lifelong dedicated opposition leader who was selfless and committed to the cause, adding that, for that, his legacy would forever be remembered.
Mr Boko further thanked the Koosaletse family for their contribution to bringing to life and nurturing such a noble being who had played a leading impacting role in the political sphere.
“On behalf of UDC I wish to pass our sincere heartfelt condolences to the family for he has radiated goodness, kindness and optimism for the good cause to the party,” he said.
For his part, BNF chairperson, Dr Patrick Mmolotsi expressed that the UDC was saddened by the sudden passing of Mr Koosaletse. He said he was one of the founders of opposition who was committed to the struggle of liberating the people’s lives.
Dr Mmolotsi said in recognition of that, considerations should be made to scribble a book in an effort to document eulogies for the active role he took as an active member in the opposition parties.
“In actual fact it is befitting for a giant such as this one to have one of the public buildings named after him,” he said.
He noted that, although it was not known by many, Koosaletse as a Lobatse native, was also instrumental to the emancipation of the people of South Africa through his assistance in hosting some of the African National Congress members during the apartheid struggle.
Dr Mmolotsi shared that Koosaletse died while they were planning to meet with the elders of the party to rekindle their commitment to the party. “We shall forever be indebted for the commitment, dedication and role that he has played in delivering the mandate and growing the party,” he said.
Likewise, he thanked the family for enabling Mr Koosaletse to be the brilliant, principled, compassionate and courageous giant that he was,” he said. Mr Koosaletse was once in the BNF leadership before his break away to BCP in 1998 due to internal party squabbles, where he became the vice president, then later the president.
He was at one point the secretary for Kanye South, which is currently Kanye East. He died as the elections coordinator under the UDC flagship.
Before his demise, Mr Koosaletse had assumed the chairmanship of the coming UDC primary elections and the position of coordinator for the coming general elections, UDC’s newly-formed post.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
