Departed educationist-cum-journo-cum-farmer interred
Ryder Gabathuse | Monday December 18, 2023 10:26
KANYE: Born Keemenao Michael Mothibi some 57 years ago, the educationist-cum-journo-cum-farmer blended both rural and urban life well. His work life has seen him leave Gaborone after varsity to take up a teaching post in Maun, a village in northwest Botswana, for about a year before returning to the capital city for an illustrious dream career as a journalist.
Upon completion of his studies at the University of Botswana (UB), Mike, as Mothibi was popularly known, took up his first job as an English and History teacher at Maun Senior Secondary School.
Even in steady government employ, Mike’s gargantuan appetite for a career in journalism saw him resigning from his teaching post to join one of the country’s popular newspaper stables, Mmegi of Dikgang Publishing Company (DPC) as a cub reporter, only a year after joining the teaching service.
He first cut his teeth in the craft at varsity as the editor-in-chief of the UB Scope magazine and never looked back. His commitment and newsroom capabilities saw Mike’s meteoric rise in six years of his stay at Mmegi, from a cub reporter to a middle manager as a news editor.
He would later bolt out of the DPC stable to join the rival CBET Group, the publishers of both The Midweek Sun and Botswana Guardian newspapers as the helmsman at the former publication for five years. He got his major break at the stable’s flagship newspaper, Botswana Guardian as editor from 2004 till 2008 when he rose to the stable’s control centre as a managing editor.
His love for the media space did not just end at the CBET Group, as even outside of the group, Mike pursued his first love as he around 2012 joined the Global Post newspaper as a shareholder. Unfortunately, his journey with the Global Post did not last long. With his quest to continue serving in the media space, Mike would further his love for agriculture by setting up a magazine focusing on agriculture known as Agro-Forum.
This was before the father of three, a boy and two girls, was employed as a public liaison officer by Estate Construction, a company working on a village sewer reticulation project in Kanye.
Speakers at the funeral described Mike as a villager who had a penchant for advocating for Kanye developments and a loving father who never removed his eyes from his children.
He was also presented as a humble and true son of the soil who also loved agriculture passionately. He was a social advocate who also loved his village as he volunteered through many groups to selflessly serve Bangwaketse in various roles. He mingled with the villagers with varying political beliefs. Mike was a proponent of politics of the left but had no difficulties mingling with his political opponents.
Former close friend and ruling Botswana Democratic Party activist, Kentse Rammidi who had returned from the village of Kgagodi where his uncle was being buried, chose to honour his long-time friend, Mike, to give him a fitting send-off. His uncle was being buried on the same day but was excused to pay his last respects to Mike, who was a true friend and a brother to him and many others.
He eulogised that Mike returned home after an illustrious career in journalism to focus on developments in Kanye and other challenges in the village.
“He returned (came home) after leaving his job. Upon coming here, he chose us (lebandla la ko ntsweng) leaving the likes of Banks Kentse, who is also the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) spokesperson. Kentse is also a relative to the deceased,” reminisced Rammidi.
“Mike was part of us now. We had time together and he has been part of the general development agenda of the village,” he added.
He mentioned that Mike was part of a team that was tasked with the responsibility to structure development plans properly emphasising that they closely worked together day in and day out helping villagers.
Rammidi pointed out that Mike talked so passionately about parenting and always wanted to know how he (Rammidi) was raising his children. The deceased was fond of showing Rammidi how his daughters had baked scones amongst other household chores as a way of appreciating the good works of his children.
Rammidi left mourners in stitches of laughter when he pointed out: “Mike was so secretive about a new woman in his life (if at all there was anyone) after his divorce until he succumbed to death. He has never shown us anyone (woman) he had befriended.”
He also left the gathering enthralled when he indicated that as a team of friends, they had come up with an order of departure in which case one of their friends, Mitchell ‘Platini’ Ramaologa was at the top of their list and “I was at the back of that list since I had a lot of unfinished business”.
He further emphasised that Mike’s passing was a shocker to them as they recently attended the funeral of their friend’s wife in Palapye and Mike was full of life without any signs of sickness.
Monkgotsetsi Kentse, Mike’s uncle also left people in laughter when he announced that his family members tend to marry from within (amongst) themselves. To Mike’s surviving children, Kentse assured them that they should not feel lost even after their father’s departure.
“Look at the birds of the wild, they survive despite the harshness of the environment they live in,” he assured. He presented Mike as an avid farmer who was also a unifier at both cattle posts and at home in Kanye.
Thato Galeboe, who in 1999 married Mike’s sister described how the deceased had an accommodative structure at his cattlepost. He said Mike ensured that the Lorolwana/Gasita farmers’ committee thrived and brought farmers together for a common purpose. He also praised his brother-in-law for the way he has raised his children, purely empowering them for the future. Julius Katze from Estate Construction, Mike’s employer, was quick to point out that they were privileged to have had the deceased as their colleague.
“He will smile should he look down over us, here because we chose to honour him as one of us,” Katze told the mourners.
He found it very difficult to tell a complete story of Mike in such a short time. He compared him to a large tree with its roots anchored very deep into the soil. A large tree that for a long time provided shade.
“People sat under this tree for mentorship and shared the requisite wisdom. That tree has now fallen. What’s good, however, is that there are shoots that have emerged from the roots,” he said using the analogy of a fallen tree to emphasise that the deceased has left a legacy. “Memories can’t be taken away by anything,” he said.
Scribe Dikarabo Ramadubu, who has worked with Mike, stressed that his former colleague has left a legacy that is there for all to see.
“He has professionally fathered a lot of media workers. He has served at both the media advocacy body, MISA Botswana and Press Council of Botswana,” said Ramadubu, CBET Group investigations editor.
“We met in 1993 when he was at Mmegi. I had the opportunity to interact with him closely. He played a role in ensuring that I got promoted to various positions at the workplace (CBET Group). He was a serious-minded leader who enforced discipline,” he added.
In Ramadubu’s observation, Mike was a respected and accomplished writer who, unfortunately, departed without writing a single book. He bemoaned that he has left a huge gap in the profession that has its own challenges.
Dr Boitumelo Motswagole, one of Mike’s friends, met the deceased at Moeding College and was classes ahead of him. Motswagole told mourners that the secret was finally out as Mike had always claimed to be older than her. The deceased would in their lives later become very close to the Motswagole family.
“He was fond of challenging me and often accused me of not talking like a PhD holder. There are many stories about him that we can tell,” eulogised Motswagole.
She also noted that Mike tended to limit himself to ‘serious issues’ when they were holding conversations. Most importantly, “we differed on political affiliation. As a civil servant, there was no way I could indulge in partisan politics,” she explained.
To her, Mike was jolly and had offered her a nutrition column in the Global Post newspaper, although she provided her services for free.
“He was hardworking and he loved his garden and coffee. He loved his children so much,” she pointed out and declared worriedly that the gap Mike leaves behind will be hard to fill.
To a lot of people, Mike was humorous and had a permanently disarming smile. He also loved jazz music a lot.
“In 1993, I stole a jazz tape for Mike from the Main Mall,” a friend confessed at the funeral. A jazz musical item was also played in honour of Mike from the then-stolen tape.