A New Motswasele? Leetile Raditladi’s Troubled Tenure as Batawana Tribal Secretary, 1946- 1952

By Barry Morton
Abstract This article details the tumultuous fi ve-year period when the renowned Tswana author Leetile Raditladi served as tribal secretary of the Batawana. During this period Raditladi became the de facto leader of the Batawana, working in conjunction with the female Regent Elizabeth Pulane Moremi. Raditladi’s autocratic behaviour and his sexual liaison with the regent led to the emergence of a secretive faction known as the ‘Malcontents’ who took steps to end his tenure. After several years of intrigues, the Malcontents eventually removed Raditladi from the Batawana Reserve by force. Given that Raditladi’s most famous work, Motswasele II, is a critique of chiefl y tyranny, his very own actions during the only time in his life when he held real power are highly ironic.

Introduction
Leetile Raditladi (1910-1971) is still regarded as one of the Tswana language’s foremost poets and writers, being particularly renowned for his epic historical drama, Motswasele II, published in 1945. Not only was he Botswana’s fi rst published fi ction author, but he also achieved many other distinctions during his lifetime. He was one of the fi rst Batswana to graduate from university after attending Fort Hare, and later became the highest-ranking African member of the Bechuanaland civil service during the 1940s. In 1959 he formed the country’s fi rst nationalist political party, the very short-lived Bechuanaland Protectorate Federal Party. His accomplishments also went far beyond these spheres. Raditladi also spearheaded the formation of the country’s fi rst football and tennis leagues in both the southern and northern parts of the country, while he also promoted numerous public cultural events. Although we have only the bare bones of a biography to go by in the form of Boikhutso’s 1985 BA research essay, it is nevertheless clear that he was among the most eminent Batswana of his era and was a major fi gure across colonial Botswana (Bechuanaland Protectorate). On a personal level, he was well-dressed, athletic, dashing and witty, and was a real ladies’ man.

Read more at http://journals.ub.bw/index.php/bnr/article/view/627/333

Try one more time!!!

I wonder how many times people have been on the cusp of a great breakthrough, been discouraged and gave up? How many wonderful achievements were squashed before they became reality because somebody gave up? How many individual dreams were never realised because people were afraid of failure?

Thomas Edison, the great inventor, was one of the biggest failures of all time. He failed time and time again, learned from every mistake, and went on to triumph. I love this quote from Edison, which aptly sums it up: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.“

Edison turned every obstacle into an opportunity. When he was in his late sixties, his massive laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey burnt down. Instead of moaning and giving up, he gathered his loved ones around to marvel at the fire and immediately started planning for the future.

“You can always make capital out of disaster,” he said. “We’ve just cleared out a bunch of old rubbish! We’ll build bigger and better on these ruins.” He didn’t give up. He tried one more time. And, eventually, he succeeded, and changed the world.

It is good to think about your weaknesses every now and then, evaluate them and devise plans to overcome them. But don’t dwell on weaknesses. Rather, see them as opportunities for improvement. See them as chances to try again in a new way. One more time.

https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/try-one-more-time

Distance Education in Botswana and Library Service: Matters Arising Since the Colonial Period for the Records

Distance Education in Botswana and Library Service: Matters Arising Since the Colonial Period for the Records

Olugbade Oladokun

Abstract

With the cross-border experience that began in Salisbury College in Southern Rhodesia and ended with the award of Elementary Teachers’ Certifi cate (ETC) by the Education Department then based in Mahikeng, this paper submits that the History of open and distance learning (ODL) in Botswana predates the country’s Independence in 1966. Using documentary sources, the fi rst part of the paper provides an account of the peripatetic existence of distance education starting from the colonial period. The provision of distance education programmes at various stages in Botswana is articulated in response to how distance education has operated thus far in the country. The paper also points to the pedagogical methods utilised. The second part of the paper looks at the unquenchable thirst for education by Batswana in the face of limited programmes on offer in the country by distance delivery mode. This heralded the rush for cross-border distance education to satisfy the yearning. But then any academic programme of merit requires quality library service to enhance the learners’ motivation, learning process and learning success. Using qualitative
and quantitative research design, this study applies vital elements (management, facilities and equipment, resources and services) of standards/guidelines for distance learning library service designed by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), to gauge library service to distance learners of four distance teaching institutions in Botswana. The results of the survey seem to evoke some tension between the beauty of the programme and the ugliness of not being able to signifi cantly meet the information needs of the students in the programme. The library service offered to distance learners falls short of the expectation of the standards and the students were generally not satisfi ed. The paper identifi es with the belief that both physical and virtual library service should be offered even as the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) is urged to apply a clear regulatory and quality assurance regime that entails all requirements for the approval and practice of tertiary level ODL programmes in Botswana.

Read more here http://journals.ub.bw/index.php/bnr/article/view/859/486

African Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management: Theory and Practice

African Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management: Theory and Practice

    Dr Susan Keitumetse, a Research Scholar

The book with 9 chapters, offers a synchronised scholarly and practical approach to African cultural heritage resources conservation, adequate with the emerging field of cultural heritage studies in the modern world. It introduces the hypothetical approaches to cultural heritage studies and practice from an African context which is currently missing in the literature on the subject. Furthermore, the book provides a research and teaching guide as well as instructional material to academics interested in African cultural heritage resources.

The book is now out online, with table of contents and is ready for orders from the publisher.

A History of Safari Companies in the Ngamiland

A History of Safari Companies in the Ngamiland, 1960-1990

Puso Sezuka

Abstract:

This paper investigates the History of safari companies in Maun and surrounding areas in the period between 1960 and 1990. In the mid-twentieth century the government of colonial Botswana (Bechuanaland Protectorate) encouraged hunters from the West to come and hunt in Ngamiland in a desperate bid to help control the spread of Tsetse fl y (Trypanosomosis) and also to boost the economy of the region which was dependent on precarious cattle production. This initiative led to the establishment of safari companies. In addition, some hunters came to Botswana and established hunting safari companies given the territory’s rich and abundant fauna which was good for sport hunting. This was during the time when East Africa was experiencing overcrowding of sport hunters. Consequently, some professional hunters migrated to other parts of Africa. Earliest safari companies were established in Ngamiland and Chobe Districts making these two regions an increasingly popular safari destination for predominantly international clients. On investigating the History of these safari companies, this paper also examines the challenges faced by the companies, among which are the perceptions of local communities on the establishment of the companies in their area. Interestingly, the post-colonial government of Botswana did not pay much attention to safari tourism industry until 1990 when the industry was recognised as important for economic diversifi cation drive. Archival records and oral interviews are made use of in the paper to substantiate the arguments and observations. 

Read more here http://journals.ub.bw/index.php/bnr/article/view/853/520

Pula Journal

http://journals.ub.bw/

Researcher predicts more rain

A researcher at Okavango Research Institute (ORI) Mr Oliver Moses has predicted a lot of rainfall in Botswana due to La Nino, which has affected the Equatorial Pacific region.
Mr Moses, who was presenting his research finding dubbed Current Rains and Ocean Atmosphere Interaction, during a stakeholder meeting in Maun recently, said normal to above normal rain fall was expected between January and March this year
The research’s main aim was to update stakeholders on the current rains and to explain their connection with ocean-atmosphere interactions in relation to Botswana’s climate.
Another aim was to sensitise them about how the warming and cooling of the Equatorial Pacific Ocean influenced Botswana’s climate.
Mr Moses revealed that generally, La Nina was associated with wet conditions, while its counterpart, El Nino was associated with dry conditions in Botswana. He said sometimes trade winds intensified causing an upsurge that is stronger than usual, resulting in temperatures that are colder than normal.
He explained that what happens in the oceans affects the weather in Botswana, adding that currently the country has already received more rainfall which caused havoc in some parts resulting in some buildings, roads and bridges destroyed.
Furthermore, the researcher observed that some major dams in the country are already full.
The gathering was also briefed that in Ngamiland, there was a shift as rainfall started in November while generally rain season starts in October.
 He said the shift was caused by climate change adding that this season, the district experienced more rains in January.
“We have already experienced more rain in January and yet the season is not ending which means by the end of the season, the rains will be significant. This year there is a lot of rain coming,” he added.

The acting director of ORI, Professor Joseph Mbaiwa thanked the researcher for his informative presentation noting that the stakeholders now know what will happen in the next three months in terms of rainfall. BOPA