The day I danced for Colonel Mobutho of Zaire

In those years independence meant feasting. This arrangement of making food available at every kgotla was the best ever because many of the children of that era suffered from serious malnutrition. We were always happy to be invited to the small Gaborone Airport behind the University of Botswana. Years later after becoming a soldier I wondered what had gone into the minds of the planners when they placed an airport next to a university. In fact Botswana Defence Force owes the University of Botswana great gratitude because it was through the efforts and much pressure from Professor Thomas Tlou and his staff that this airfield was later moved to Mapharangwane. There was no way the university could be moved.

Sir Seretse Khama’s government had invited African leaders from as far afield as the Gambia. Though I was just 10-years-old, I can still recall the events of the day and the Presidents who  came to the event.