Borolong’s ‘Segotsa Molelo’ step in the right direction
Pini Bothoko | Wednesday May 7, 2025 06:00
Visiting my home village recently, I was moved by the initiative and noted it could spread across the country.
Whilst generally the Setswana proverb 'Matlo go sha mabapi' (loosely translated to encourage neighbourliness) has been on a downward spiral, in a show of unity and compassion, residents of Borolong village have launched an initiative to support bereaved families through small financial contributions during times of mourning.
The initiative, dubbed Segotsa Molelo sa Borolong spearheaded by Ace Kelekwang and Albert Setso is a funeral support initiate through WhatsApp contributions. In an interview, Kelekwang explained that the idea was inspired by a similar initiative in Gweta village and was introduced to him by Mma Setso through her son, Albert.
He said since its inception in September 2024, the initiative has gained momentum, bringing together Borolong residents from near and far and has assisted a number of families.
“We created a WhatsApp group where residents, including those working or living in places like Maun, Gantsi, Tsabong, Gaborone, and even out of the country (in the diaspora) are notified when there is a funeral in the village and each person contributes as little as P20,” Kelekwang told The Monitor.
Narrating how this initiative works, he said the core mission of Segotsa Molelo sa Borolong is to foster unity amongst residents and encourage collective responsibility.
Kelekwang added that the group aims to assist families that may be struggling with funeral costs, especially those who may not receive enough support due to distance or work commitments.
He said once a resident passes on, group administrators approach the bereaved family to inform them about the initiative and seek their consent to be supported and if they agree, the deceased’s details are shared on the group to begin the contributions.
Furthermore, Kelekwang said the money collected is handed over to the mourning family a day before the funeral and in cases where there is more than one funeral, that money is divided equally amongst the mourning families.
“This initiative is about love, unity, and restoring the spirit of botho in our community. Our village is big, it has a population of around 9,000 people. On good days, we are able to raise over P10,000 which is handed to the family to use as they see fit,” he said.
“Albert and I had observed that some families in the village face difficulties when it comes to burying their loved ones hence the idea of introducing this initiative to residents. We believe that these contributions will go a long way in easing that burden.”
He revealed that to ensure smooth coordination, each of the six wards in the village has a dedicated volunteer representative responsible for monitoring funerals and making announcements to group administrators.
Kelekwang continues to urge all Borolong natives to join the WhatsApp group and take part in supporting fellow villagers during difficult times since the group currently has 1,018 members.
“I encourage my fellow Batswana, who haven’t already, to adopt this, well of course in their own way, as this couldn't only assist those in need but also bring back the so ever needed spirit of 'matlo go sha mabapi'.
“The spirit of togetherness amongst us as Batswana comes a long way and I encourage residents who haven't joined the group to ask for the WhatsApp link from other villagers and join so that we can help each other,” he said.