From a miner to a destitute:the life of Badubi Mosinyi

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Friday November 9, 2012 00:00

 

The Monitor team arrived at Mosinyi's homestead just after lunch and find the family resting under a tree, chatting away as if nothing matters on earth. The team was informed that Mosinyi was taking his afternoon nap because over the past few days he has not been feeling well. A little child was sent to wake him up as he had visitors.

Mosinyi comes around as someone who has a hearing problem because for him to get what the other person is saying, the person has to shout. He said in an interview that he spent most of his life as a miner in South Africa.

Due to lack of formal education, the young Mosinyi was working underground and doing any odd job that was available. 'I used to enjoy my job even though it was nothing fancy. I was able to take care of my family. During those years, things were not expensive like today,' said Mosinyi.

Being born in 1941 in Seboo ward, after retirement, Mosinyi went to live at the cattle post and take care of his livestock.  At the moment, all his livestock have disappeared because he is not longer fit to look after them and he is unable to hire a herdboy.

It was in 2011 when he lost his wife that he started living in Mmadinare permanently. Mosinyi was blessed with nine children but three passed away. He is now left with six children and only one of them is working as a security guard at one of the companies in Selebi-Phikwe.  Mosinyi has 11 grand children and two of them are newly born.

Mosinyi's last born, Letlhomile said their parents failed to send them to school. At 19 years, Letlhomile said she still fails to understand why her parents decided to deny them their right to education. She revealed that they spent most of the lives at the cattle post. She pointed out that she feels embarrassed when she is with her friends because all they talk about is finding jobs.

'When I ask my father why they did not take us to school he does not have answers. I am thinking of enrolling at Botswana College of Distance and Open Learning (BOCODOL) but the problem is that I do not have information on how to go about it,' said Letlhomile with disappointment in her voice.

The Mosinyi family was blessed last week when they got a donation from Standard Chartered Bank. The bank has built them a three bed roomed house, a pit latrine, a tap water, a garden and also fenced the yard.The family was also given food hampers.

Mosinyi appreciated the donation saying now the only challenge that lies ahead is to try and find a job for his children. He accepted that he made a blunder by failing to take his children to school.