Former Mmegi Sports Editor dies

ERNEST KELAPILE
Correspondent | Thursday April 26, 2012 00:00

 

He had been hospitalised at Bokamoso Private Hospital since Easter Sunday. Boitumelo retired from active journalism in 2005 and joined Botsogo Health Plan as a Relationship Consultant: Sales and Marketing in the marketing department.

He, together with Mochudi Centre Chiefs' chairman Ernest Molome, were amongst the pioneers of the health scheme during its formative days under the leadership of the then managing director Odirile Merafhe. Boitumelo was born in Kanye on Valentine's Day in 1965. He was the seventh of 10 siblings born to Mokowe Morekwa and Boarona Morekwa of Kanye. He started his education at Letlhakane Primary School near Orapa where he did his standards one to three before moving to Ipeleng Primary School in Lobatse where he finished his PSLE.

He then proceeded to Lobatse Secondary School and eventually Mater Spei College in Francistown where he matriculated in 1984. He studied for a journalism diploma in Zimbabwe. Upon his return he cut his journalism teeth at Mmegi newspaper as a cur reporter.

He later joined the Botswana Guradian/ Midweek Sun group of newspapers under the proprietorship of the late William Jones. It was at Midweek Sun where he rose up the ladder and was eventually appointed to the editorship of the paper. He quit the editorship of the Midweek Sun in 1999 to try his luck in politics.

He contested the Botswana National Front (BNF) primary elections for the 1999 general election in Lobatse but lost to current Member of Parliament (MP) Nehemiah Modubule. Boitumelo was to re-join Mmegi in 1999 as Sports Editor. He was at Mmegi until 2002 when he left to run Mega-Pro sports firm. Later he joined joined Botsogo Medical Health Scheme.

At Mmegi Sports desk, Boitumelo introduced a number of reforms including the introduction of the weekly 'First Cut' column in 2000 and later alternated on it bi-weekly with Dennis Keagile before quitting in 2010. At one stage he was Extension Gunners chairperson. His warm personality and friendly smile earned him a lot of friends both in the media and life in general.

In 2009, Boitumelo was joined in holy matrimony to Cathy Monyatsi and they were blessed with a son and daughter Lefika and Nonhle respectively. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter and four siblings. May his soul rest in peace. In Lusaka meanwhile, former Times of Zambia sports editor Ridgeway Liwena died last Saturday after a short illness. He was buried on Tuesday.