With the canoe, Captain's dexterity and safety record are second to none

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Friday July 30, 2010 00:00

Botsang, whose middle name denotes no rank in the military, is on another fare to ferry clients to Boseja, which in Setswana means on the other side of the river and is often the name assumed for such places throughout Botswana.

The 40-year old broad slab of a man that he is, Botsang is unfazed by any size wave. Presently there is a massive one, but he is the picture of calm as he paddles his canoe to safety on the other side.

Botsang plies his trade in the Thamalakane River, now that it is flooded again after a long dry spell. For five years now, Botsang's life has been linked to the Thamalakane River where he charges his clients P4 per trip across the river. The endless joy riders are welcome, but Botsan's clientele is made up of people who work on both sides of the river.

It is these that are the staple of his livelihood. He comes to the river at 6 am and repairs for home at 7pm. The taxi, as he affectionately calls his canoe, is his mainstay of business, as he does not do anything else for a living.

Although paddling a canoe in the river can be risky, Botsang ventured into it without the benefit if any formal training. 'I regard my skill in paddling the canoe to be a natural gift,' he says. 'I actually count myself among the best.'

At his age, he is not certain how much longer he will be in his trade, the only one he knows. For a long time, the Thamalakane River was dry and this robbed Botsang of a living as he had nothing else to fall on.

Botsang, who prefers his middle name of Captain, says given the level of the water currently in the river, it will be some time before it will be dry again. He estimates that without any inflow, the river could go on for a year.

His safety record is worse than none for the past five years. Two women alighting from Captain's canoe say they are housemaids at one Selby's house. They live across the river and Captain's canoe is their daily means of transport to and from work. A young woman who lives on the side of the river whiles away time with the canoe operators. Captain's canoe is made of fibreglass, making it fairly light and reducing its chances of overturning.

The boat is wearing off though, but Captain feels it will be some time before he replaces it. As the canoe cuts through heavy green vegetation, Captain takes firm control, displaying his ambidexterity.

Captain explains that it is however regrettable that people here cannot enjoy water vegetables like tswii, a potato like root common in the Thamalakane, because of the high water level.

'Tswii is more easily available when the water level is considerably low,' he says.

Such is his prowess that Captain does not have to solicit for customers. His canoe carries a maximum of four people including the 'Captain' himself.

A stone's throw from where he plies his trade is the popular party spot, The Big Tree, which is currently right in the middle of the river. This is a particularly popular party venue when there is not much water in the mighty Thamalakane. But until the river runs dry again, people can only access The Big Tree by canoe. Not very far from The Big Tree are three football grounds, now completely under water except for the top of the white goal posts.

It is the end of the day, and Captain repairs home at 7pm to resume his semi-aquatic activities tomorrow.

Hopefully the army motorboats will be nowhere near, and Captain's clients will not have no waves to worry about.