James Olesitse: Marxist, prag matist, farmer, politician...

Friday, March 07, 2008

It has been 24 years since James Olesitse arrived in Palapye looking to win hearts and minds. He has won many along the way but not enough to send him to parliament. Twenty four years down the line he is still filled with hope. Palapian, GIDEON NKALA, goes back in time, chats with Olesitse's parents and friends in the heart of Tswapong and traces his political roots from Gaborone, Mahalapye, Serowe and Palapye.

British novelist, George Orwell, did not have Palapye in mind when he wrote his futuristic novel, 'Nineteen eighty four'. In his celebrated book, Orwell predicts political Armageddon and doomsday in the year 1984.

Nineteen eighty four in Palapye was very much the antithesis of the Orwelian eighty-four.

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