Africa-Press – Botswana. The Leader of Opposition (LOO) and MP for Maun North, Mr Dumelang Saleshando has revealed reasons behind his extended absence from Parliament.
On Thursday, he explained in Parliament recent developments regarding his health. aiming to counteract speculation and promote public awareness around critical health issues. He said he had chosen to make his health condition public to avoid rumours and speculation and more importantly, to help raise awareness.
The BCP President and Maun North MP, who previously disclosed during the 12th Parliament that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, reiterated that his decision to go public was never an act of seeking attention but an attempt to foster national dialogue about a disease that continued to silently affect thousands of families.
“There is no joy derived from the reality that your body is home to cancer cells that have a possibility of prematurely leading you to the grave,” he said, adding that too many families dealt with cancer in silence while public understanding remained low.
He noted that prostate cancer was one of the leading cancers affecting men, ranking as the fourth most fatal globally. The LOO stated that over 1.4 million men were diagnosed with the disease annually and stressed the importance of education on such non-communicable diseases.
Mr Saleshando shared that his family history of cancer prompted him to undergo regular prostate screening. He emphasised that early detection through a simple blood test can save lives, urging men across the country to make testing part of their routine health checks. Mr Saleshando said that during a follow-up scan in May 2025 to ensure the cancer had not spread, doctors discovered something unexpected, ‘an intracranial hemorrhage’ blood leaking between the brain and skull.
“I was admitted immediately and underwent emergency brain surgery to stop the bleeding. I want to assure Batswana that I did not undergo an operation related to cancer,” he stated.
The LOO credited early detection and prompt intervention as key to his recovery, not just from cancer, but from the brain hemorrhage as well. Mr Saleshando expressed deep appreciation for the support he received during his recovery.
“I am truly thankful God, my family, friends and Batswana for carrying me through this time,” he said.
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