In memory of a friend killed by an elephant

Swimming in open water is a favourite pastime of boys in the North West PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES
Swimming in open water is a favourite pastime of boys in the North West PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES

“A reye go shaura”, Bashi beckoned us to go swim. Three inseparable boys. Bashi, Rantole and yours truly. Bashi was a little older while Rantole and I were seven. Like the three musketeers. Always up to some mission. We found Xani flooded with boys.

You see, Okavango River is given different names as it passes across different areas. In this particular place at the edge of the thick bushes in Qurube cattle post (15km from Gumare), it is called Xani River. Xani was the favourite for the boys. It had less reeds and open waters where boys would swim and fish while their cattle grazed.

Meanwhile, some distance away packed a tourist’s 4x4 vehicle. ‘Masafari’ as we called them occasionally passed by our lands. Always Whites, indifferent and in khakhis. History was poised to change. An old lady walked towards us.

Editor's Comment
Closure as pain lingers

March 28 will go down as a day that Batswana will never forget because of the accident that occurred near Mmamatlakala in Limpopo, South Africa. The tragedy affected not only the grieving families but the nation at large. Batswana throughout the process stood behind the grieving families and the governments of Botswana and South Africa need much more than a pat on the back.Last Saturday was a day when family members said their last goodbyes to...

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