Dumelang Saleshando is a politician from Botswana who served as the
Leader of the Opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...
of Botswana from 2019-2022. He was replaced by Dithapelo Keorapetse.
Early life and education
Saleshando was born on 13 September 1971, is the firstborn of five sons to Gilson Saleshando, a politician, and Keatlaretse Dolly Saleshando, a nurse.
He attended numerous schools growing up in
Kanye
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ear ...
,
Lobatse
Lobatse is a town in south-eastern Botswana, 70 kilometres south of the capital Gaborone, situated in a valley running north towards Gaborone and close to the border with South Africa. Lobatse has a population of 29,772 as of 2022. The town is an ...
,
Selebi-Phikwe
Selebi-Phikwe (also spelt ''Selibe Phikwe'') is a mining town located in the Central District of Botswana. It had a population of 42,488 in 2022. The town is an administrative district, separate from the surrounding Central District.
Mining
...
[ and was brought up in the ]Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is an Adventist Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week in the Christian (Gregorian) and the Hebrew calendar, as the Sabbath, and ...
. He completed his schooling at St Joseph's College, where he became a member of the Botswana Socialist Youth,[ before enrolling in a degree in economics and political science at the ]University of Botswana
The University of Botswana, popularly known as UB, was established in 1982 as the first institution of higher education in Botswana. The university has three campuses: one in the capital city Gaborone, one in Francistown, and another in Maun. T ...
in 1992.[
]
Career
After university, Saleshando joined First National Bank Botswana as a trainee manager but he was summarily dismissed for leaking information about the finances of the ruling party.[ In 2003, Saleshando started campaigning for Gaborone Central parliamentary seat in the capital Gaborone. The seat was previously held by Michael Dingake, the former leader of ]Botswana Congress Party
The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) is a political party in Botswana. The BCP was founded in 1998 in a split from the Botswana National Front, with most of the BNF's sitting Members of Parliament joining the new party after a leadership dispute w ...
. Saleshando was elected to parliament as the Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central after defeating incumbent Hon Dr Margaret Nasha in 2004.[ He was re-elected as a Member of Parliament for the same constituency in the 2009 general elections and was elected party president unopposed in July 2010, after his father, Gilson Saleshando stepped down as party leader.
Prior to taking up the BCP leadership role, he served in the party Central Committee as Information and Publicity Secretary. His father was initially opposed to the idea of being succeeded by his son, noting that it was not proper since many people will believe that the party was run by a dynasty. He gave up when many people in the party endorsed the young Saleshando for the position.]Umbrella for Democratic Change
The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is an political alliance, alliance of centre-left to left-wing political parties in Botswana.
History
The UDC was founded in November 2012 by members from various opposition parties, including the Bot ...
under the Botswana Movement for Democracy
The Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) is an opposition political party in Botswana established in 2010 by MPs and other politicians who split from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party over differences with Ian Khama, the BDP's leader and Pres ...
.
Personal life
Saleshando married Dineo in 2002 and they have two sons and a daughter. His son Seabo Saleshando a typical kid who plays tennis and ranked as one of Botswanas top players.[
]
References
Botswana Congress Party politicians
Living people
1971 births
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