10 Oct 2019

The decision by the government to name the Francistown International Airport after the late Philip ‘PG’ Matante has been commended.

The honour will be done by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi in Francistown today.

Former Mayor of the City of Francistown, Mr Iqbal Ebrahim said Matante’s recognition, although posthumous, was befitting for a man who had always advocated for the welfare of the people of Francistown.

Matante died October 25, 1979.

Matante together with K.T Motsete and Motsamai Mpho found Bechuanaland (now Botswana) People’s Party, (BPP) in 1960.

He was also amongst the first batch of parliamentarians following the general elections in 1965.

The first area MP for Francistown and Leader of the Opposition (LOO) in the history of Botswana’s politics, PG Matante held no prisoners in his quest to have all the repressive laws and any other such establishments that prejudiced people based on colour removed.

Even before the country had attained independence in 1966, PG Matante organised and lead demonstrations against repressive regulations imposed on people of colour by Tati Company, which owned chunks of land in Francistown.

“There were curfews established by the Tati Company that barred blacks from being seen loitering or hanging around the eastern side of the railway line, which was a much more developed part of the city and a preserve for whites only.

People of colour were forbidden in this part of the town after sundown and ‘PG’ could not put up with this arrangement,” said Mr Ebrahim.

Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) president, Mr Motlatsi Molapisi echoed Mr Ebrahim’s words saying Matante’s recognition for his contribution to the socio-political development of Botswana was well-deserved.

The BPP leader was especially happy that government had recognised Mr Matante who was one of the first Batswana to address United Nations general assembly lobbying for the autonomy of the then British colony.

An opposition politics firebrand and enigma whose oratory skills particularly at freedom squares was a marvel, Matante, born in 1912, was the son of Goanwe Matante of Serowe.

He would later migrate with his parents to South Africa, where he spent his youth.

After the death of his father, Matante secured a job in the mines and worked as a clerk.

In 1941, he made his way back to his native Bechuanaland Protectorate where he served in the African Pioneer Corps.

He would return yet again to South Africa where he joined the African National Congress (ANC) before returning to his home village of Serowe and subsequently Francistown in 1957.

While in Francistown, Mr Matante worked as a store manager and lay preacher.

In 1959, Matante helped launch Tati Cultural Organization, which addressed political issues. ENDS