Talana Farms - putting the record straight

| Thursday November 20, 2008 00:00

It is a fact that the management of Talana farms had argued that such an exercise by the TDT was not possible as they had tried it before and failed to the extent of falling victim to the misconception and myth that 'Batswana are lazy' and appealing to our department of labour to grant them permits to recruit Zimbabwean farm labourers.

It is a fact that the TDT and the Tonota residents disproved the misconception and myth and within only months one hundred and ninety 190 unemployed citizens of this country tried their luck at Talana Farms and only 40 said that the work was too hard for them. The rest proved that they could handle it but complained about the low wages paid to farm workers.

It is a fact that in Tonota youth unemployment and juvenile delinquency are a serious concern to the community and residents who had been promised employment by Chinese contractors building the bus/taxi rank and the 10 km tarred road which have employed only eight Batswana and the rest being Zimbabwean nationals. It is also a fact that these few Batswana and most of working at the clothing garment factory, poultry company and the drought - relief workers in Tonota have complained of very poor wages and working conditions.

It is a fact that the TDT did not sit on its laurels and make lots of loud noises with empty promises, but instead sacrificed its meagre resources to come to the rescue of our unemployed frustrated youth and relieve the Tonota community of this social ill and turned it around into a future economic benefit. We put into effect and operation to send 190 mostly youthful Tonota unemployed residents whose background was subsistence farming, to go for irrigation of vegetable farming.

It is a fact that the TDT with the assistance of the management of Talana Farms would identify and select the best 90 naturally talented prospective youth farmers who could be assisted to access the CEDA young farmers fund, from the youth that would have successfully completed their work attachment at Talana Farms.

It is a fact that the TDT has approached other relevant stakeholders like the University of Botswana business clinic and others to help us work together in providing the necessary basic knowledge and training to mould future prospective commercial young farmers who would make a career in farming for themselves. It is our hope and belief that should we support and empower our young farmers they would be able to navigate us towards creating a viable, enabling and sustaining agro-based industrial revolution that would give us back our national pride of being able to feed ourselves.

It is a fact that the TDT would like to see Tonota residents playing their role of constructive and progressive contribution in building a diversified agro-econo industry as the Botswana government has challenged us, Batswana, to do so. Tonota has the advantage of the Shashe river, other rivers and a water underground base. The TDT and the Tonota youth would like to take up the challenge, should we be allowed to do so, please, without influence, threat nor fear, it is our legitimate democratic right!

It is a fact that Talana Farms, and all the other private, public and parastatal agro-based econo-diversified initiatives need our support as government, political representatives, all other community representatives and citizens of this country. This Botswana development corporation (BDC) t/a Talana Farms is our own local product, which needs to be nurtured, supported and empowered, if it is to succeed. We need more of such projects in the country if we are to be economically independent. Shooting it down or boasting to 'tear it apart' at platforms or fora where Talana Farms cannot defend itself, and without arming one's misguided missiles with researched and confirmed true facts, is not honourable nor fair to our investors, if indeed, there are some short falls with Talana Farms we must show accountability, responsibility and exercise indulgence because Talana Farms is our national pride and our national product. One only has to read, research, understand and appreciate that one of the reasons we have failed, as Batswana, in making agriculture one of our main revenue generating avenues, is our lack of determined, committed and targeted support of agricultural related projects and schemes!

It is a fact that the TDT and myself, as the patron of the trust have been wrongly and deliberately tarnished at platforms and/or fora where I don't have the chance to defend myself. However, this is not a problem with me, as I am used to such allegations. Fortunately, I am never perturbed nor disturbed by such accusations as I know my legitimate democratic rights and where to seek redress and solace.

Lastly, but not least, it is very unfortunate that the colour of my political underwear should be a problem to others. I do not owe anybody any apology for my democratic political choice. I am an experienced Botswana National Front (BNF) political veteran, loyal committed and determined to the economic emancipation and economic liberation of Batswana. I do not have to explain my political credentials to anyone nor extend any apologies to anybody including the management of Talana Farms.

It is unfortunate, for the management of Talana Farms to terminate the mutual and constructive employment creating facility for the poor and innocent Tonota community residents, initiated by the TDT simply because my political colours happens to be of a different colour other than red, white and black. Our nation must know, our Batswana people must know and the Tonota residents must also know that the Tonota community unemployed residents will no longer enjoy the employment opportunities availed them by the TDT simply because the patron of the TDT happens not to be a member of parliament who wears a red, white and black BDP colours, as implied by the Monday 10th November 2008 Mmegi article titled 'Talana Farms boss did not know Mzwinila'

It is unfortunate that in our 'shining democracy in Africa' political representatives have to go around parading their parties. What a shame to our democracy and what an infringement on peoples human rights! No wonder our government assistance, government aid, government loans, government empowerment and all the various and numerous government initiatives and schemes have failed, are failing and will continue to fail to alleviate unemployment and poverty in this country.

However, I would like to put the record straight that, Tsholofelo (Hope) Development Trust is an apolitical non-government organisation (NGO), which has never, and will never effect its mandate by looking at political affiliation of those who seek and need its assistance. One only needs to interview the many beneficiaries of this trust in the Gaborone north constituency. Furthermore, not a single person from Tonota who has been to Talana Farms through the assistance of the TDT, has ever been asked to show their party affiliation.

The motto of the TDT goes 'where there is a will, there is a way', which in Setswana could be intepreted as 'Ya re se tlogelwa tsatsing se ikise moriting.' The Tonota community and residents must know that the TDT had nothing to do with the self-centred and dishonorable decision taken by the Talana Farms, which was politically motivated. The TDT will continue to stand by you, and together with yourselves, we will continue to find 'ways' and 'means' to economically survive and persevere through this socio-economic ills with or without the management of Talana Farms.

Viva the economic struggle against unemployment, poverty and all the other socio-economic ills burdening our people. VIVA!

Comrade Flight Lieutenant

Michael Kelebogile Mzwinila