The P2.1 million humanitarian donation, which beyond babies’ nutrition food included medical utilities such as bandages, blood transfusion kits and disposable syringes, is a gesture which if done in a transparent manner will have most of us, nodding in total agreement, and even offering our share of the monthly children’s rations. Batswana, are giving by nature, hence the Setswana saying bana ba motho ba kgaogana tlhogo ya ntsi.
This means however little you have, family will always share. Again, Batswana are known to be neighbourly. Zimbabwe, once the breadbasket of southern Africa, has been in dire straits for decades now, mainly due to misrule because of political instability, mismanagement of resources, and at most times the collapse of the economy. We have lived with our neighbours in our homes, ordinary Batswana families, companies and even government, employing Zimbabwean economic exiles, thus ensuring the sustenance and development of the neighbours’ economy. This is living by the adage of matlo gosha mabapi, whereby when a neighbour’s house is on fire so is yours. This means that unless you help put out the fire at the neighbour’s house, yours is next.
