Botshelo Wame Sechele - Tribute to a vivacious larger-than-life personae
Correspondent | Friday June 24, 2016 16:04
How would I easily believe that someone with whom I had had a characteristic cheerful phone conversation only three days earlier had abruptly departed this life. In fact, were the news bearer not her sister I would probably have procrastinated swallowing the bitter pill and sought temporary asylum under the pretext of the need to first verify. But alas, in this case the source was impeccable and as good as the horse’s mouth.
I first met Botshelo Wame Sechele 26 years ago when we were both Form 1 students at Marang Junior Secondary School. I was classmates with her close friend Koketso Rathedi. As a result of this friendship she frequented our class. We were to later meet at Mater Spei College where we were both boarders.
A product of the prestigious and privileged private primary school background, she was humble and down to earth as she seamlessly mingled with fellow students from all kinds of backgrounds.
The school was a melting pot and a hodge podge with some boarding students from the remotest villages. She became part of the circle of friends who became my family away from family. I still remember, almost a quarter of a century ago when I turned 16, the feminine section of this mob attacking me with hugs and kisses after singing happy birthday to me.
They then proceeded, in celebration, to play a type of ‘French skipping’ that was called ‘ batho safe’ whilst us boys chitchatted the Saturday afternoon away.
Materially, there was very little to pass around, but the hearts shared immense love and joy.
Botshelo, like her name so aptly reflects, was not only full of life but also loved and enjoyed life. A gregarious and affable individual that easily made a lot of good friends. She was armed with a ready and radiant smile coupled with a big, loud and infectious laughter.
Sometime in April this year, I arrived in Francistown where she was now based, on an early morning bus. She generously offered me her car to run my errands around town before returning it as I caught the evening bus back to Gaborone.
Last July on my 39th birthday, when we ran into each other at Riverwalk Mall, she insisted on us having coffee at Mugg and Bean Restaurant even though I was in a hurry to prior arrangements. On hindsight, I am extremely glad I accepted the invite, for little did I know fate would never accord us a similar opportunity.
Shortly before she passed on, she had met about three other former school mates at a wedding where an idea of a reunion for the class of ‘94 was birthed. A Whatsapp group was then formed to facilitate communication. She became part of the inaugural steering committee which swiftly swung into action with the ground work.
As a fitting tribute to this larger-than-life personality a large contingent of the Class of ‘94 joined multitudes that congregated to pay their last respects at the memorial services held in both Gaborone and Makaleng.
Perhaps no one sums her life better than Botshelo herself, when a day before the fatal accident that claimed her life, she posted the following words on her Facebook page,
“I am important, beautiful, strong, happy, capable, grateful, hard working, healthy, full of love and understanding.”
Fare thee well good friend!
DE VILLIERS DISANG NAGE