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The two pre-eminent 'Batswana' international writers

They lived worlds apart and had so many contrasts between them but one thing that is common about both of them is that they have put Botswana on the world map. For a start her mother's white family rejected Bessie Head because her father was black. On the other hand, Alexander McCall-Smith's parents are both British and white and his upbringing was good.

Although Head's maternal family was opulent she died in poverty, while on the other hand it is clear that McCall-Smith is safe from the clutches of poverty.

Both of them adore Botswana and their love for the country has been immortalised in their books. Head's affectionate depiction of Serowe in her book Serowe: The Village of Rain Wind has prompted many to visit the semi-arid country when she wrote:

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Editor's Comment
DIS must correct costly stalemate

More than P8.1 million has already been spent, yet there appears to be no lasting solution in sight. This is not simply a dispute between the DIS and a group of officers. It is a matter of public accountability. Every pula spent by government comes from taxpayers who expect public funds to be used wisely and responsibly, especially during economic hardships faced by many.The officers exercised their constitutional right to seek justice through...

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