Tributes to Sakarea Makgapha
Correspondent | Wednesday April 2, 2014 12:21
Thank you Zakes Makgapha for who you were
I was away at the cattlepost until late last night when I returned to the news of Sakarea Zakes Makgapha’s secretive departure. His being must have been aware of his possible appointment with the tragic car accident which violently separated him from his earthly garment.
My real first encounter with this promising journalist occurred a few days before the Gaborone Bonnington-South launch at which my party, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), offered me to the people of Gaborone Bonnington-South as a parliamentary candidate. Of course I had known about him and read many of his insightful and forthright interventions on and out of official media print.
Within the second day of our first encounter he had called me so many times over the phone, that I already felt he was part of my family. When I saw his public endorsement of my candidacy, I gasped with both concern for him and with emotion for his bottomless generosity of heart. Within a small span of time, we exchanged countless notes and shared perspectives about the direction that Botswana was taking. I attended the Duma Boko court case a few days ago, and I recall I left the courtroom in a rush. I heard the footsteps of someone running behind me along the court-building corridors - it was him.
Struggling to fathom enough air to speak, he had run after me to tell me he would not let me leave before he could greet me and assure me that he was proud that we are doing the right thing. He shook my hand so firmly, so intently, closing his mouth so tightly and his eyes unblinking - that I felt something move within me. I have no wonders about what he could have been or what he could have ultimately achieved, none whatsoever - for he was what he was, to me, a human being that offered his life, love and admiration to others.
Pamela Kelepang-Dube, a journalist with whom he was acquainted, mentioned to me the other day - “This boy admires you, Ndaba”. Thank you Zakes Makgapha, for sharing the fruits of an entire lifetime within such a short span of time. Thank you my friend. You have left me with neither words of comfort or consolation - you have left me basking in your love, and traveling on a path, that leads to my re-union also, in unspeakable happiness, with those dear ones from whom I have been separated by the river which you now have crossed. God be with you, God be with your family and the many who were dear to you. - NDABA GAOLATHE
Remembering comrade Sakarea Makgapha
The sad news about the untimely and tragic end to the life of a young, very promising firebrand of our time has landed in my ear. You see I knew Sakarea Makgapha as a colleague and I admired his drive, his ambition and desire, always pushing the boundaries for more.
Not content with the limelight that comes with the field of journalism, he started reading law. I remember teasing him about his latest obsession with the law and he gave that infectious laugh and told me how most people often think he is already a qualified lawyer. I have watched him grow in journalism, I can vividly remember his earlier days as a scribe and how he kept on improving to the point of dominating front pages of the various newspapers he worked for. His commitment to the profession was impressive indeed. We had many interesting debates more so, lately on the best form of regulation to use for the media in a democracy. He was of the view that statutory regulation is the way to go, while I am still in support of self-regulation or at least a mixture of the two; what some have called independent co-regulation. Makgapha argued his case expertly even as some accused him of favouring one opposition party.
He maintained that his views were informed by nothing else but principle. I remember one minister, the usual arrogant chap, telling you my friend, that you are underpaid, pointing at me, when I was at Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) - Botswana Chapter, and saying I should advocate for better pay for you instead of making noise against the government. You took that distasteful joke with amazing humility. You continued to try and make him see the importance of an access to information legislation. This is the man the country has lost! An ambitious, courageous and fearless man.
May your soul rest in peace ‘comrade’ like you used to refer to me. I shared your love for the letters, reading is something we both found refuge in.
Allow me to borrow from a great man of letters and say to you my departed mate your “Life was gentle; and the elements, So mixed in [you], that Nature might stand up, And say to all the world, THIS WAS A MAN!”
William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
Your were a great man indeed, you conquered every challenge you faced. You contributed immensely to the growth of the journalism profession in the country and your name will always be among those of our fallen heroes.
Men and women who did not choose the comfort and easy route of sycophancy and bootlicking but chose the treacherous trenches of the struggle for a better Botswana.
Colleagues in the media let us honour our heroes; let’s have the Sakarea Makgapha award for young upcoming journo or something. Rest in Peace Comrade! - PHENYO BUTALE
Robala ka kgotso ngwana wa bo rena...
Sakarea Makgapha was the epitome of desire and ambition. The Ramokgonami born lad completed his journalism programme at Limkokwing University College of Technology and he landed at the Gazette newspaper offices some few years back and immediately hit the ground running as an intern.
It did not take him three months to convince management that he had what it took to further the objectives of the Gazette and those of the media industry. I had the privilege of working with him at his formative stage and I can safely say his inquisitive nature catapulted him rapidly in the profession.
He carried the weight of the Gazette after myself, Khonani Ontebetse and Victor Baatweng had left to join the Weekend Post. I was not surprised when I got to know that he was now pursuing a law degree with University of South Africa (UNISA). This was after he parted ways with the Gazette. Sakarea or Zakes was a self-driven individual, who hardly respected limits, for in most cases they are just social constructs or they are mere man-made barriers. The Sunday Standard and the media fraternity have lost a real foot soldier, a man of zeal indeed. Death has robbed us; he was still young and full of energy! Condolences to his family and friends...I am still trying to come to terms with this loss... AUBREY LUTE