Michael Dingake
Encyclopedia
Michael Kitso Dingake is a Botswana political activist and writer.
, Dingake joined the African National Congress
in 1952. In 1966 he was sentenced to 15 years on Robben Island
. Released in 1981, he worked at the University of Botswana
. In 1992 he entered national politics, becoming vice-president of the Botswana National Front
in 1993 and entering the National Assembly
as MP for Gabarone Central in 1994. In 1998 he led the breakaway Botswana Congress Party
, but lost his seat to Margaret Nasha
of the Botswana Democratic Party
in 1999. Retiring from politics in 2004, he became a weekly columnist for the newspaper Mmegi
.
Life
Educated in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Dingake joined the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
in 1952. In 1966 he was sentenced to 15 years on Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
. Released in 1981, he worked at the University of Botswana
University of Botswana
The University of Botswana, or UB was established in 1982 as the first institution of higher education in Botswana. The university has four campuses: two in the capital city Gaborone, one in Francistown, and another in Maun. The university is divided into six faculties: Business, Education,...
. In 1992 he entered national politics, becoming vice-president of the Botswana National Front
Botswana National Front
The Botswana National Front has been the main opposition party in Botswana since the 1969 elections.It achieved its greatest electoral success in the 1994 elections, when it won 37.1% of the vote and 13 of 40 parliamentary seats. A factional conflict in 1998 led to the departure of 11 of these...
in 1993 and entering the National Assembly
National Assembly of Botswana
The National Assembly of Botswana is the legislature of the country's unicameral Parliament. It is advised by the House of Chiefs, which is not a house of Parliament....
as MP for Gabarone Central in 1994. In 1998 he led the breakaway Botswana Congress Party
Botswana Congress Party
The Botswana Congress Party is a social-democratic political party in Botswana, considered the third largest 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...
, but lost his seat to Margaret Nasha
Margaret Nasha
Margaret Nnananyana Nasha is a politician from Botswana, the first female speaker of the Parliament of Botswana. She represents the Botswana Democratic Party....
of the Botswana Democratic Party
Botswana Democratic Party
The Botswana Democratic Party is the governing conservative party in Botswana. Its chairman is Daniel Kwelagobe.BDP was shaped by Sir Seretse Khama, who is celebrated for nurturing the economic and political success of Botswana. The party's base is in the traditional Setswana communities, and it...
in 1999. Retiring from politics in 2004, he became a weekly columnist for the newspaper Mmegi
Mmegi
Mmegi is an English-language national newspaper in Botswana. Established in 1984, it is now published daily by Dikgang Publishing House in the capital, Gaborone. , Mmegi is Botswana's only independent newspaper to be published daily....
.
External links
- Mr. Michael Kitso Dingake, Kutlwano Magazine