AMBITIOUS: Mathiba
A young ex-convict who was pardoned by President Ian Khama in 2008 has expressed his interest to run for parliament on a BDP ticket in 2014.
Anderson Mathiba, 23, was jailed for impersonating a police officer and sentenced to six months imprisonment in 2008.
Four months into his prison term Mathiba walked free with 1059 other prisoners pardoned by president Khama in May 2008 in a gesture of goodwill and mercy meant to encourage good behaviour and discipline among inmates.
Commenting on Khama’s merciful act Mathiba, currently a trainee hairdressing and beauty therapy student at Gaborone Technical College said: “I love President Khama. He is my man, not because he pardoned me, but because I liked him from childhood. I want to be his hairdresser, not because his hairdresser is failing him but simply because I want to have a chance to do his hair and enhance his looks. I want to make him look more handsome.”
Although Mathiba adores Khama, he has never met his idol or talked to him.
“We have never met. I want to see him, thank him, sit and talk with him. He is a great leader and a good man. He has a great heart. He gave us a second chance to reconcile with our communities!” he said.
“Asked about what landed him in jail Mathiba said; “I had walked into a bar together with my friend, pretending to be police officers and forced the bar owners to close down. It was late in the night and we thought we could have a bit of fun by impersonating officers. Obviously the loud noises from the bar’s music system was disturbing us from sleeping and the police were not doing their job and we thought we could assist by pretending to be them but they obviously didn’t take kindly to that, so I landed in prison.”
To deal with the harsh prison life Mathiba who got married at a tender age of 18 converted to Christianity and became better behaved and disciplined.
“I have the potential to represent people in parliament. I know what human suffering entails. I have experienced the bitter life of poverty and being rejected by other people. I know other politicians would point a finger and stigmatize me because I have been to prison, but I would tell them that I was a young boy then, but now I am a man. I am married, I am a Christian and I am very responsible,” Mathiba said
Should he be approved by the Botswana Democratic Party Central Committee to contest for the party primary elections, then the current Member of Parliament for Letlhakeng East, Likiet Kably should get ready for a good run for his money, Mathiba said.
MATHIBA_2856
U hv grown wth tyme my boy,going to prison s 4 anyone jst lke admitted in hospital.we rather talk of ur positives nt ur negatives coz we al learn frm our mistakes.go 4 ur dream nkunze
Show them how we party!
Monna wa rialo rra re go eme nokeng i hope u win bulela ditswe or atleast pass the vettin stage. Gud luck
Ke bolawa ke go nna hairstylist ya ga Mr Pres. O fan ya gagwe ya nnete bro.
O tswa kae ko gae monna o batla go nna MP wa Letlhakeng? Fa o sa tswe Letlhakeng o lebale ke teng gone ka kong
Ijoo wee, o ya go bua eng monna o ipoka ka go dira moriri wa ga Tautona, re batla policy makers mrena eseng ba ba elang go ya go dira meriri ya banna ba bangwe