The President�s shoes
Mpho Tlale | Friday September 26, 2014 16:33
There they were. President Ian Khama’s black formal shoes with laces. They looked too simple for me to be able to place them under any particular price tag. Not the usual over the top type of shoes you see the pompous Gaborone so-called money-makers wearing.
He was wearing simple shoes that matched his black suit.
It is not everyday that we get to see the President’s shoes. Most of the newspapers that have the President on them only show a portrait size photo.
It is only on rare occasions that you see Khama’s full body photo in the newspapers, hence my interest in his shoes when I caught glimpse of them. Most attention is always placed on the face, the speeches and everything in between, but never the shoes.
I know it would be too much to expect to see him wearing those long pointy white side-buckled shoes that are synonymous with the church-going brothers.
However, it would not be much of an expectation if I were to see the President in Chuck Taylors. Who would not want to see HE at a rally on a weekend in that lechesa tip? Not just any colour of lechesa though. They would have to be red ones so that they stand out. Of all the three Domkrag party colours red is dominant over black and white. The other two are like ‘side chicks’, not that visible or prominent enough to go against red.
After all, our President is an action man. Many would attest to that statement without thinking twice. It is not just any President who can go to a rally, get onstage and just do some manyesa type of moves. That is a stunt for the brave and those are the type of moves that just push me to have hope in my wish to see him rocking a lechesa.
But then at the same time there are also those Polka moves that HE does with passion that just deserve to be done in a lechesa too. Better yet the next time HE takes his bicycle to a campaign in Old Naledi might just be the perfect time for him to unleash his red chucks.
In fact that would be one of the things that would push his ratings through the roof. The youth, myself included, would relate to him way more than before. On the other hand there will be economic diversification, as those in the Chuck Taylor selling business would reap profits from a newly found craze. Yes we do have staunch machesa wearers, but I am sure new members will chip in and be a part of the crew.
It is simple. Trends prosper based on who pushes them. What harm would there be in us being a lechesa wearing nation. That might just bring in a little joy and happiness to Batswana who have been ranked among the unhappiest nations in the United Nations World Happiness Report that was released some time last year. The little things do contribute to a bit of happiness.
Although the President does look charming in his quad biking boots, they do not stand a chance against the famous chucks. Neither those boots nor those army ones he rocks when engaging in excursions can hold a torch to Chuck Taylor’s creation.
I know most people would passionately agree with that statement.
It might not be a bad idea after all if I was to inquire about the President’s shoe size and send him a pair. They do say if you want to see some change you have to take some action.