What had happened to him, I asked, apart from the fact that, as reported in the Sunday Standard of 3rd September, he was not intending to stand in next year's election. Why he died, didn't you know? I didn't - but expressed surprise that this could have happened without my having heard. Check the internet and see for yourself. I did and there it was, a Wikepedia entry which reported that Charles died, somewhat surprisingly, at the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland in 2009; that there was a huge memorial service, and that his degree in international relations, international economics and international law from Oxford University was put in the college degree hall of fame. It added that he had worked at the Ministry of Home Affairs and at a number of foreign missions before entering the private sector and becoming managing director of Gaborone Delta. Other internet entries, however, made no reference to his passing. Why on earth would anyone post such an entry, how long it has been on the internet and why has no one taken steps to have it removed? When people are mistakenly reported as having died, the person involved usually takes the matter lightly.
There are likely to be distant friends however who would have no means of knowing that such a report is dead wrong, and would undoubtedly be distressed. On the other hand, the supposedly deceased people may be amused to read the appreciative comments made about them after their 'death' that were never made about them when they were still alive! When Sidwell Gabatshwane reviewed Isaac Schapera's Bogwera in Kutlwano in 1979 he mentioned that the author was dead. Schap took the news of his passing very coolly suggesting to me by letter that, 'the reference to me as 'late' was amusing but I suppose should be corrected. Would you feel like dropping a note to the editor saying that you have been authorised by me, from my London address, to inform the readers of the journal that I am still alive (or at least was on the date given above i.e. 3rd March). Gabatshwane's mistake was understandable. When anyone of us are out of sight for any length of time, the presumption is usually that we have gone on to higher places. The Tibone account is something very different.
