From cradle to the grave, theatrics

Ryder Gabathuse | Monday May 5, 2025 06:00

It was diametrically a befitting case of a metaphorical expression of ‘from the cradle to the grave’. ‘Tso’ was born and succumbed to a recent malady at the hospital of his birth 42 years ago - Jubilee Hospital. From his birth to his passing, he maintained a similar address making his case a bit peculiar by any measure. In his life like in his demise, ‘Tso’, who was a self-confessed social justice advocate, united the society he served with distinction through his mighty pen. As the founder of a football team, Industrial Football Club, he united the location, Area W, that raised him by bringing football lovers together to play social soccer, which did not only bring football enthusiasts together but also promoted the spirit of competition and purposely engaged out of school, and school going youth, keeping them away from the torments of this life.

The team was a permanent feature in the area through his efforts as its chairperson and main sponsor. He knew the team would not easily compete amongst others with the team of his youth, TAFIC Sporting Club, Throngs of mourners from all the four corners of this country in their hundreds braved the hostile weather last Saturday in Francistown to pay their last respects to the fallen newsman. Mourners heard how the fallen scribe used the might of his pen to institute changes in the society that he served. He did not just follow the stories for the sake of it; he chose impactful angles to the stories. Itekeng ward councillor, Lesego Kwambala gave a testimony at the funeral that through his writings (Lebogang’s) influenced a motion that the Francistown City Council adopted targeting empowerment of the lower bracket of the informal sector to regularise. He hailed this as a powerful and impactful service to the community through the wisdom of a writer. ‘Tso’ could have held on to his own beliefs that contradicted his, but Kwambala benefitted from the scribe’s wisdom and he pursued him with vigour for further interactions. He also hailed Mmegi and The Monitor and their sister publications, Botswana Guardian and The Midweek Sun to have offered ‘Tso’ a platform to express himself as he had influenced decision-making in the entire Francistown, which has three constituencies of Francistown East, South and West through his sharp pen. Vain Mamela, Botswana Congress Party (BCP) member of the party central committee hailed ‘Tso’ to have played a crucial role in the party’s 2019 national polls.

He described the fallen man as a political strategist who helped the party a lot through his contributions of workable ideas and providing solutions to the challenges the party encountered. Kwambala would later agree that it was through some of ‘Tso’s writing contributions that the current Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government possibly instituted a joint task force of Botswana Police Service and the national army, Botswana Defence Force (BDF), to prevent illegal miners from utilising the unrehabilitated mining sites around Matsiloje, Patayamatebele, Francistown, the periphery of Francistown and other areas. Francistown experienced a gold rush in the late 19th Century after gold was discovered near the then town in 1869, making it the site of southern Africa’s first gold rush. Today, after years of mining exploitation, there are unrehabilitated mining sites that are a serious danger to the animals and human beings. In the past, a taxi driver was hijacked and thrown into one of the old mines and only to be discovered by passersby after a long period of an elusive search around the city. Prior to his passing, ‘Tso’ had reported extensively on the illegal mining activities, which, has seemingly caught the eye of the ruling party. There are many reported incidents of people who were trapped by the 19th Century mines, the majority of which pose a serious danger to the people as they have long been abandoned in a rickety state. Their conditions have been deteriorating. The Department of Mines has a mammoth task to ensure Francistown is safe again with the old mining sites rehabilitated. With the recent heavy downpours, the sites are a real danger especially to those who go underground targeting the remnants of gold. Kwambala was even hopeful that in honour of the memory of a departed journo, a motion pressuring the Department of Mines to rehabilitate numerous abandoned mining sites around Gaborone would come at the most appropriate time. ‘Tso’s senior brother, Oarabile, formerly Mmegi title editor, delved on his brother’s hilarious stories of the years of yore. He described ‘Tso’ as not only belligerent but also a copycat who chose to ignore his appetite to read for law but rather followed him as he was also admitted to read for Media Studies at Port Elizabeth. He left mourners in incessant stitches of laughter when he reminisced about an old story at Port Elizabeth’s beachfront hotels when ‘Tso’ insisted on ordering English breakfast just at odd times.

The Senior Mosikare, who is popularly known as Rops, said the brother was steadfast that he wanted English breakfast or nothing until he was served his choice of a meal. To him, that was the pushy character of his brother who would never want to lose an argument. He continued with the theatrics that somehow depicted ‘Tso's hidden character. He acknowledged that ‘Tso’ was not only argumentative but was also brilliant. The former Mmegi editor would further leave mourners spellbound when he revealed that as a former editor he enjoyed his time and unfettered power in the newsroom as he had realised, “the position of editor is such a powerful position even more powerful than the powers of the State President.” He said this amidst uncontrollable laughter and giggles. It was apparent he wanted to lighten up the mourners from their serious and quietness that prevailed at Area W. As if there was any competition before, between the duo, Ropse claimed that the younger brother was a top guzzler of inebriants and he (‘Tso’) would beat him any day to that race. He knew the fallen scribe would not be granted any right of reply as he had met his maker. ‘Tso’s shaky voice often laced up with stuttering will never be heard again. His mighty pen has also fallen with the man whose influence will remain immortalised by his deeds. Rest in peace Tholo!