Ntombi Setshwaelo: "I've learnt to centre myself"

TUDUETSO TEBAPE | Friday June 18, 2010 00:00

Setshwaelo is a nurturer and her youth environment has molded her into the person she is today.

Raised in South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho and finally married in Botswana; travelling across borders makes her what she calls a 'SADC product.'

She recalls living in a household which seemed to invite people from all walks of life who gathered at her home for advice, shelter and social interaction. Many years later, Ntombi carried on what seems like her family's tradition of caring and supporting others. It is in her nature to do so.

Setshwaelo says she is very aware of her community and the next person. This personality trait enables and equips her to be the activist she is today.

Gender equality is of great importance to Setshwaelo and her efforts to promote and ensure such equality mirrors her awareness and caring of the community at large.

Setshwaelo's main focus in activism is on women, and as an extension, it includes children. Asked about the focus on women and children, she explains: 'It all starts with women. There's a saying that goes, 'if mama ain't happy, then no one else is'. The same goes for a nation'.

So, according toSetshwaelo, if the women of a nation are not happy, the nation cannot be happy. She aims to assist in creating a happy and harmonious nation through fighting for gender equality.

She is one of the founding members of Emang Basadi and stood as president of the organisation for two terms. She recalls the early days of activism as a difficult time.

'The notion of gender equality was rejected and scorned. We were dealing with people who made the laws themselves. Getting them to change their way of thinking was challenging'.

Although challenging, Setshwaelo always believed in preserving the democracy she believed existed in Botswana.'I thought 'it cannot happen here; not in a place I understood to be democratic. I believed in guarding the sanctity of Botswana jealously! I had a sense of resistance to injustice'.

Today, Setshwaelo cites a heightened awareness in Botswana society concerning gender equality. 'Intellectually, we are there, but we're not out of the woods yet'. 

She still notes a 'slow development in the correlation between justice and peace. If you keep the majority of a nation oppressed, it will be detrimental to change'. For change, Ntombi Setshwaelo looks to the lessons of the past generations and history to teach the lessons which we are supposed to learn today. 'I would like to see the elders of society filling the gap so the youth can have a strong sense of identity. I blame previous generations for the lack of this generation's knowledge. We are straddled between old and new'.

Setshwaelo is one person who is here to teach the generation about its past and about the mistakes of the past, which should not be repeated today. She teaches, nurtures and cares for people like a mother in her counselling room, a very popular radio show feature on RB2 which airs every Wednesday at 10:30am.

She also lectures and gives speeches to the masses or engages in projects conducted by Emang Basadi. As if all of this isn't enough, Setshwaelo will soon be conducting workshops for people in relationships, both inside and outside of marriage, and self-development for personal growth workshops.

These workshops will give people the opportunity to learn and grow in an interactive setting; definitely something to look out for if interested in growing and learning how to become the best you or how to partner in a healthy, loving relationship.

For her great contribution to society, and the undeniably positive impact she has had on hundreds of lives in Botswana, Mma Setshwaelo was celebrated at 'The Mosadi: Celebrating Batswana Women through Arts International Women's Day'   commemoration in 2009.

This was a well-deserved recognition for someone who has changed so many lives, mine included.

When she's not sharing herself by mothering the nation, Setshwaelo says, 'I love reading, gardening and spending time with good friends. I enjoy the company of young people because I find them very stimulating.'I enjoy good films and I let my guard down at parties sometimes. I try to keep a balance, I've learned to centre myself,' she concludes.