Import of the state of the nation address!

My country right or wrong, patriotism! My president right or wrong sycophancy! Mma V, failed in her bid to be the African Union Commission chairperson. For that I am sad. It is my view that like all the birds of the air, ‘felt sad and sorry’ when they heard of the death of poor Cock Robin, all Batswana should be sad and sorry to hear of Mma V’s failure to snatch the chairmanship of the AUC.

Mma V, my comrade from the days when the Botswana Orientation Centre helped expatriate Aid workers acclimatise to the new Botswana environment. Charming lady, Mma V whatever the warts she spots on her derring-do face. We aren’t comrades due to the same party membership, where members call each other ‘comrade,’ we are comrades because both of us are familiar with international relations and we’ve both served our neighbours  - South Africans. Me, helped them attain freedom; she, by holding them by hand fresh from the bush, to help them learn the ABC of civil government, learning to walk in the path of black emancipation.

When we met in Cape Town, not by appointment, while I was visiting my former home of 15 years, she informed me she was serving notice and preparing to return to Botswana the following year to muddy her hands in local politics. I congratulated her patriotism and good neigbourliness, traits we evidently shared. The traits shouldn’t make one less patriotic or unpatriotic! The cement of patriotism runs deep and concretises our comradeship.  When we meet in the streets of Gaborone or the winding dusty footpaths of villages, we salute each other with smile and ‘Hi comrade!’ Domkrag or Kganetso can go hang, we are Batswana first, party colours, last!   

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

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