Africa-Press – Botswana. Former Botswana Congress Party (BCP) President and also Former Member of Parliament For Lobatse, Mr Otlaadisa Koosaletse has died aged 66 at his home in Kanye.
Speaking in an interview with BOPA, his wife, Ms Boitumelo Koosaletse said the family is reeling in shock and devastated of the untimely nature of his death.
She described her husband as a loving and caring being passionate about politics who had so much love for his country, with a deep belief of shaping the country for the better for all.
Although he was a member of an opposition party, he had friends across the political sprectrum and could not mix politics with pleasure, hence his active role in the matters of national interests.
She shared that preparation were underway for the burial, adding that updates would be made in that regard.
For his part, UDC Botswana National Front Central Committee Labour Secretary member, Mr Victor Phologolo described the demise of Mr Koosaletse as a major blow to the party.
“He was a very talented gentle giant, whom we relied on as due to his deep rooted experience in politics, having ran for elections and having led the party as a party president,” he said.
He shared that in UDC, Mr Koosaletse had assumed the role of chairing the coming UDC primary elections and even coordinating the coming general election, a post which was new in the party.
“We acknowledge his commitment and role in making the party to win, more especially that traditionally his area of origin was mainly won by the opposition, so he was indeed committed to the cause,” he said.
Mr Phologolo said although there were people who felt that Mr Koosaletse still had what it takes to run for the 2024 general election, the party was still awaiting his commitment.
“We hope and pray that his knowledge of politics that he has imparted to us will be rubbed onto others.
Sometimes we do not recognise the good qualities of people when they are alive until we see the void when they have departed,” he said.
He described Mr Koosaletse as a lovable, respectable people’s person who shall ever be cherished politically through his immense contribution to the general populace.
“Mr Koosaletse was once in the Botswana National Front leadership before his break away to BCP in 1998 due to internal politics, where he became the vice president, then later the president,” he said.
He said he was at one point a secretary for Kanye South, which is currently Kanye East, adding that he departs as an active member, and currently the elections coordinator under the UDC flagship.
“We are with the family through this sad period and we intend to sit down with them and play a part in conducting a well-coordinated farewell befitting a man of his stature and recognise him as an elder in our party.
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