Mosetlha calls it a day after 35 years

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Monday August 30, 2010 00:00

 

Mosetlha worked in the civil service for 35 years and she retires on August 31.

'I was still a student at Moeng College doing Form 5 when we were given application forms to complete and they were taken to Gaborone. They were for a course on community development.

'A few months after completing my Form 5, I heard my name being announced on Radio Botswana that I had been admitted,' she said.  Her first job was in Tlokweng in 1975, were she worked for six months. Mosetlha said she was transferred to Kweneng District Council as assistant community development officer.

'I went to pursue my degree in adult education that I completed in 1996 and I was posted to the Ngamiland District. During that era, the district was under attack of cattle lung disease. We had lots of work to do in assisting people who had been affected by the killing of their cattle,' said Mosetlha. She was promoted to Principal Community Development Officer, stationed in Gumare.

'Okavango and Gantsi had many disadvantaged people but could not be assisted because funds were not permitting. In those years, rehabilitation programmes did not exist and the only available social net was food rations.  'More emphasis was on welfare, unlike today. Those communities in rural areas were assisted through RADP. We had transport challenges especially when we wanted to send an officer to places like Xade,' she said.

She moved from Palapye to Serowe and after four years to the North East District where she was in charge of supervising all community development programmes.

In 2005, Mosetlha landed in the copper mining town of Selebi-Phikwe on promotion.

The hardworking woman was promoted to Chief Community Development Officer in 2008. Mosetlha is proud of her work in Selebi-Phikwe: 'We gave them cooking skills and they are being hired by different companies and even the council to cater for them.

They are able to generate income for themselves. 'I am proud to know that even though I am leaving I have managed to improve the lives of some people in this town.

I was working closely with my staff and I could not have achieved these without them,' she said.

Mosetlha thanked the council and the community of Selebi-Phikwe for their support. She retires to her village in Sebina. Mosetlha is married with three children, Kabo, Olorato and Nonofo.