Big Brother must review rules

Editor | Thursday November 20, 2008 00:00

Admittedly, Tawana Lebani voluntarily went to the Big Brother Africa House3 on her own without an input from Batswana. In fact, until then, few knew about Lebani's existence.

It is, however, also true that Big Brother Africa inmates are normally identified with their countries. Tawana and Botswana's identities were used interchangeably while she was in the house.

This implies that whatever a Motswana does in the house positively or negatively reflects on the country. It is for this reason that the country has regrettably been drawn into the Tawana saga. At the beginning of the BBA 3 session, to which Mmegi was invited, most Batswana were elated to learn that Tawana would represent them at the house. The 31-year-old is not only educated but she is also a promising small stock farmer. She has an honours Bsc degree in microbiology. What a potential role model for our youth, many thought then!

However, some were taken aback initially when Tawana blurted out that she hated her neighbours in Botswana and women in general. Subsequently, while at a dumpsite, she confessed to fellow inmate, Latoya of Tanzania, of her uncontrollable appetite for sex. All these were taken to have been 'misspeaks'.

But the reality that is 'reality TV' started bringing home images of Tawana ashamedly starting to live out her sexual fantasies. By the end of her stay in the house she had already done sexual acts, which in some cases led to sex, with three of the inmates from Zambia, Angola and Zimbabwe.

As if that is not enough, on her eviction from the house last Sunday, she boasted to millions of viewers across Africa that: 'I love dick'. In the following widely publicised interview she defended her remarks and her sexual behaviour in the house.

We hope Tawana's character has not overshadowed this country's gallant fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. On the very day Tawana was boasting about her promiscuity in Johannesburg, former President, Festus Mogae was awarded the Mo Ibrahim African Leadership Award in Alexandria, Egypt. Obviously, the award also took into account Mogae's exemplary leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Undoubtedly, Tawana's house sexual shenanigans have done great damage to this country. In the face of Tawana's bed-hopping, piercing comments like: 'No wonder Botswana is the world's epicenter (capital) of HIV/AIDS', were thrown around.

                                           Today's Thought

So our virtues lie in the interpretation of the time.

                                        - William Shakespeare