We Owe It To Amantle, We Owe It To Ourselves!

Dumi Mmualefe | Monday August 25, 2014 16:49

Women are known hard workers who would till the land while carrying babies on their backs. These women are our sisters, daughters, mothers, aunts and nieces. Most importantly, they are our mothers; thari ya sechaba!

I was asked an interesting question by a friend a few months ago. The question I was asked was, “name three women in the whole world who you would like to meet”.

This was a simple one for me and I named them. Interestingly, he thought, I was ambitious enough to even sharing that there are women I would like to meet. I was at first lost as to what ‘ambition’ had to do with meeting people! My list was simple,”I would like to meet Winnie Mandela, Amantle Montsho and Cathy Malejane.”

I could understand the surprise at my desire to meet Winnie Mandela because some people have judged her harshly. As for the other two, I had not heard of any moral judgment passed on them. But who has not been judged, especially those in the public domain?

I still want to meet Winnie Mandela, she is a heroine. This is the woman who kept the struggle against apartheid going when Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was in prison. This is the woman who had to endure 27 years of hardship raising their children and fighting for the freedom of black South Africans.

Who could ever forget how she lead multitudes in protest against well-oiled apartheid killer machines, risking her  own freedom for the emancipation of South Africa. Winnie Mandela had her faults, some of which came with the struggle and the political situation of the time. This is the woman who, when people who had committed the most atrocious acts were forgiven through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, was judged to be unworthy of forgiveness!

Winnie Mandela is an amazing woman who would not ask for tokenism but would dirty her hands in the male dominated world of politics.

In fact, if our women were to learn from this one woman, then we would not be banking on the SADC protocol on gender equality to have our parliaments equitably populated by men and women.

Gender stereotypes and economic inequality were there, even in her situation but she led men and women in the struggle, she turned the heat on the apartheid regime proving to them that “when you touch a woman you are touching a rock”!

I want to sit with her and ask: “Mama, what makes you tick; what inspires and drive you?” I would like to ask her where she derives such strength and staying power, even to outlive many who were on both sides of the struggle. I would like to ask her what she can do to help multitudes of other women empower themselves co-own this world in earnest.

I know very little about Cathy Malejane, I have probably crossed paths with her but did not know it was her. I know from her ‘Cookie Jar’ radio show, that she is from Ramotswa, and that she does not speak the vernacular that well. But I have come to respect her from what I hear on Duma FM. She appeals to me as this gentle, intelligent young woman who does not take herself lightly. I cannot claim to have listened to many of her programs because she is on air when I am at work. That aside, the few times I get the opportunity to listen to her program she never fails to leave an impression.

Amantle Montsho needs no introduction! This young woman has hoisted the beautiful Blue, black and white flag like no one ever has. Amantle became the beacon of hope for the athletics sleeping giant of Southern Africa that Botswana was.

It was because of her sterling performance at world stage that younger, upcoming athletes began to fancy their chances of becoming world beaters.

Who could ever forget her name reverberating on world stage as surprised commentators excitedly shouted out her name as she sliced through the world stage athletic tracks! Who can forget the self-belief that engulfed the nation?

Amantle did not only do us proud, she made us a proud nation. For the first time the world looked and noticed. Amantle Montsho became an instant role model for our youth. She became a mentor. Great athletes were to come to foe.

We now celebrate the likes of Nigel Amos and Makwala. We now have younger athletes whose future looks even brighter. Amantle has paved this way that many will tread for years to come. Her foot prints on the track will forever inspire many and take Botswana to loftier heights!

Now, Amantle is a judged woman. Social media is awash with unpalatable hurtful words against her. I do not for a moment think Amantle does drugs. I do not even think any reasonable person would think that of her.

Something that could have gone seriously bad has gone seriously bad! That is how cruel life can be! Something, one thing, went wrong and I think she is as shocked and that has made us forget all the good she did, our praises have suddenly turned into curses! Shame on us, not on her!

She still has a lot to offer. We cannot let the talent and experience she has gained go to waste. Amantle is going to produce world beaters! I still want to meet Amantle. She has been through what most of us cannot survive.

Have you ever thought of her parents or her sibling during this trying time? She is someone’s daughter and sister; she is an aunt, she is our daughter and she deserves love and respect.

This we do not only owe to her, we owe it to ourselves as a nation. Amantle is a child of God, a child blessed with immense talent and with this talent God, has blessed us through her! Amantle I pray for you. To God be the glory!