Six in race for ambassadorial award

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Thursday February 25, 2010 00:00

However, it is the public that will decide the winner, after the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) the promoters of the Month of Youth Against AIDS (MYAA) youth competition established sms voting line, 71391109.

The voting is nonetheless open to  the youth in the 12 to 29 age group. Voting closes next Tuesday. Pan African television reporter Kitso  Masi, a former contestant on Imagine Afrika II, is also in the race.    Masi has a glittering portfolio having been previously  selected by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) for 2009.

The JCI TOYP programme formally recognises young people who excel in their chosen fields and exemplify the best attributes of the world's youth. Kitso is the programme director of the South East District Youth Empowerment League (SEDYEL) and uses sports as a tool to educate young people.

Gabz FM popular voice, Tshepo Ntshole, is another contestant for the award. Ntshole has also made a name for herself as MC at corporate functions, as well as motivational speaker.

Joel Ntsoro Keitumele  is perhaps the early crowd favourite. He presides over one of Botswana Television's (Btv) most popular shows, Mokaragana, on which his bags of Ntsoro jokes are enjoyed every  Saturday evening. But Joel is also a local movie star, having released dozens of  Ntsoro styled comedies, as well as dramas on DVDs. He is also an accomplished gospel singer  and  runs his own events and promotions company.

Kabo Matlho is another local musician eager to steal the show.  He has proved over the years that one can overcome  disability as he  outperformed  the rest in music competitions like Pop Star Botswana. Matlho already has two albums under his belt. HIV/AIDS activist  Shirley Keoagile, a Disability HIV and AIDS Trust (DHAT) programmes officer, will pin her hopes on her campaigns for  the rights of people with disability. She recently appeared in Mmegi lambasting authorities for neglecting the needs of the disabled in Botswana.