This week in history � 12th May 1989

Lesang Maswabi | Friday May 16, 2014 17:14

From the moment I was welcomed into that wonderful Mmegi family of inspirational educationists, scribes and creatives, I knew then that I had just arrived at the right place that would later determine both my professional and academic destiny as the unfolding events would present themselves.

Having first been recruited from William Jones’ Botswana Guardian at the closure of 1988, I would later at the second quarter of 1989 land in the good hands of two senior graphic artists, Judy Seidman who was also the creator of  the Fa-Tlase cartoon and Billy Chiepe of the famous political satire The Billboard and humorous Chomi strip. They both mentored me on the earlier forms of Desk-Top Publishing (DTP) through the use of Apple McIntosh computers.

We were apparently one of the first production units in the region to use Steve Jobs’ early toys that have now become the envy of the entire universe. Upon both Seidman’s and Chiepe’s successive departures in the next three years, I would soon assume the leadership of the department before later enrolling for an Honours Degree programme in Graphic Design in South Africa in 1994.

In the intervening years I would attend some courses and go on attachments that were key to my career. Amongst these were the 1992 Media Institute of Southern Africa’s (MISA) Design course in Windhoek, Namibia and 1993 attachment at the then Weekly Mail & Guardian, now Mail & Guardian in Johannesburg, South Africa. To this day, I have never regretted my late 80s move from the Botswana Guardian to Mmegi.

As I reflect back on the journey travelled thus far, I am almost overcome with nostalgia. Flashes of the good and not-so-good moments that I experienced quickly rush through my mind. For the most part though, it has indeed been an exhilarating voyage.

This was despite the many challenges and difficulties that the Mmegi fraternity had to traverse emanating from sometimes dwindling business fortunes that were always threatening to fold the newspaper and other times from risks of personal safety and security, threats and fights from within and outside our country, Botswana. Perhaps the toughest test to the group’s courage and perseverance, was just at the time that I arrived up to the early ‘90s when flight of foreign funding (which Mmegi had been a beneficiary) began.

With funds having dried up, we were just never sure when and where our next pay cheques where going to come from. Amongst one the most intriguing moments that have forever remained indelible in all of us from back then, were month-end paydays when we used to be paid by cheques. The early-birds on the day would be the first ones to take flight to the now defunct Botswana Corporative Bank, presumably before the little funds got wiped out in the Mmegi account.

Otherwise, o ne o jelwe (you would have lost out) by the time you reached the bank if you had collected your cheque late. It was one of those days that the boss would extremely be nice to everyone. Despite some late staff salaries, none of us ever missed their month’s pay.

From within the country, we had always faced an antagonistic government that had regarded us and other members of the Fourth Estate as enemies of the state, simply because of our watchdog role. As a result of their stance, we would invariably get little business support from government departments and parastatals, though strategically applied depending on the regime or hierarchy at each particular time. 

The external threats and security risks that we faced came directly from the then apartheid South African security and military apparatuses. This was more so since the founder of Mmegi, Patrick Van Rensburg and the likes of the valorous Gwen Ansel were allegedly on their hit-list. Gwen would later be declared a persona-non-grata and subsequently deported by the Botswana government. Pat had himself abandoned the apartheid regime for ANC. This, after serving in South Africa’s diplomatic mission in the Congo and later skipped that country’s border into Botswana.

One personal risk that we constantly faced was on deadline-day when we had to put the paper to bed in paste-up form and courier it across the border to SA printers. This was during the time when we used to print our then weekly edition at both Sekulu Printers in Johannesburg and Pretoria News in Pretoria respectively. First the entire production had to be completed and ready before 8 o’clock in time for our driver who would normally be waiting for us on the South African side when we would be running late.

This was a time of sacrifices when mostly the MD and I would only hurriedly leave the offices with the paste-up box hardly 5-10 minutes before the border closed. Those rapid and few minutes night trips in the dark on a single-lane road with roaming livestock of all types posed real danger to us. Lastly our usual action of quickly disembarking from our vehicle and rushing to the other side of the border with lightning speed to deliver the paste-up box to our driver often nearly got us in trouble with the Botswana Custom officers, since the contents would hardly be checked.

But the real danger was the rush on no-mans-land towards SA’s side where we would normally find the SADF soldiers waiting and pointing guns at us. Incredibly, despite our regular late show-ups both the Botswana and SA officers would later develop a soft-spot for us, as they would not bother  to inspect our boxes anymore. Prior to leaving our premises we would have actually communicated with the Botswana Custom & Immigration officials to tell our driver to cross and wait for us on the SA side as we were on our way.

Yes, I have been part of the development of Mmegi and firmly grown with the roots of “News We Need To Know” brand over the last quarter of a century in the company of great people ranging from scribes, photographers, graphic designers, advertising reps, marketing staff, accountants, printers, delivery folks, ICT personnel and so on. It’s been such a great experience to work with Mmegi pioneers in the name of Pat himself and Metlhaetsile Tony “T” Leepile and  DPC’s MD Titus Mbuya.

I have also had the honour of sitting on the same DPC boards, trust and editorial, management, shareholding committees and various bodies with the likes of bo-Rre Michael Dingake, Modise Maphanyane, Marx Mophuting, Gavin Anderson, Dr Victor Sibiya, Dr  Bojosi Otlhogile, Dr Burton Mguni, Dr Howard Sigwele, Prof Monageng Mogalakwe, Otsweletse Moupo, bo-Mme Changu Mannathoko, Joy Phumapi, Bobana Badisang, Ben Magogwe, Barolong Seboni, Rex Tambula, Jack Tlhagale, Ditiro Saleshando, Batisani Maswibili, Elias Mbonini.

From the creative studio; I have had the pleasure of working with some of the most creative and brilliant minds to have ever landed on our shores - ranging from political and social cartoonists to illustrators. I have to date known and exchanged ideas with boRre Simon Seisa of the legendary Selefu and Botobo caricatures.

Since then I have had on board talented and able designers like bo-Rre Ben Setumbeko, Motsumi aka Hunter Otlhogile, Modirwa Kekwaletswe, Ofimile Montsiemang, Setshidi Koosimile, Mme  Norma Moremong, Petrus Kuhlmann, and Letso Mpho and Mme Mary Manjonjo.

The creative fluids have continued to flow into the current team which now consists of  bo-Mme Susan Themba and Rhoda Dikgaka, Bakang Baitshenyetsi, Mompati Keitumetse, Shadrack Balang, Lesego Mogotsi, Thuso Seboni, Osego Mosweu, Oman Nkonyane and Kabelo Modisane.

The various newspaper design awards and recognition over the years are testimony to the creative and innovative team that is one of the strongest pillars of DPC.

From the newsroom; It’s been such a privilege to work along the likes of the fiery but ebullient Douglas Tsiako, the urbane Rampholo Molefhe aka Chamza, the insightful Keto Segwai, the unwavering Tshimologo aka B2, Jola-jola Boitumelo, our then lone and late sister Doreen Morupisi, the highly-charged Dikarabo Ramadubu, the passionate Mesh Moeti, the probing Sechele aka Sechmore Sechele, the determined Mike Mothibi, the dedicated Kagiso Sekokonyane, the charming Chris Nkwe, the prolific Lekopanye Mooketsi, the highly-spirited Pamela Dube, the confident Mpho Maine-Oliphant, the cool, clam and collected Sam Kamphodza.

It’s been great to have worked with some of the best investigative scribes that the country ever produced in the names of Prof Malema, the affable Gideon Nkala and the charging Tshireletso Motlogelwa. The list would be far from complete if I did not mention the late 90s crew of bo Stryker Motaloso, Bester Gabotale and new-kids-on-the-block tsa bo Weni Owino, Morongwa Phala, Maureen Odubeng, Bame Piet, Mqondisi Dube, Brian Benza and Mbongeni Mguni.

From administration;Yes, I shall always be grateful to Mme Vivian Patlakwe, that sister of mine that I never had, whom my now adopted sister Lulu Ntoko would later ascend.

From advertising; the hilarious Steve aka om-Vava Kuhlmann brought smiles and laughter to all of us, with his dance and musical escapades.

From accounts; I so fondly recall the light-hearted moments I always shared with Lesh Lepale (laiti-yaaka) and Steve Pheko.

Let me lastly pay tribute to all our fallen heroes and heroines; Brown Tlhowe and Pule (drivers), Florence Pillar (accountant), Ausi Gao Tlhaloganyang (secretary), Seth Sekgwa (advertising rep), Setshidi Koosimile (graphic artist), Charles aka Hey Guy, Simukoko, Phillip Mokgethi, Steve Molebatsi, (photographers), Ellen Monau (typist), Doreen Morupisi, boRre Mmualefhe Raditladi, Cliff Meyer, Flint Sekgopi and Chamza (journos and columnists).

*This piece is intended to form part of more refined and detailed articles that I have also earmarked to form part of Mmegi’s 30th Anniversary Celebrations to be held later this year.