29 Oct 2015

Many people, especially in the African set up, speak well about a departed individual even when they sub-consciously know that in most cases they are telling half-truths. 

The ploy is usually to orchestrate amusement least the person was a devil at heart. Having learnt of this not too easy to avoid predicament, I will try by all means to restrain myself from falling into this trap as I come to terms with the passing of my former boss, Mr Botswelelo Tlale.

He passed away early Monday morning. The death of Bots Baby or Mr T has taken many by surprise.

Not so long ago, I met Mr T during Parliament Wellness Day in Gaborone and he looked much younger for his age and healthier than ever before.

I met him few times after he left the public service in 2006. At the time of his death, he was secretary in the office of the Member of Parliament for Shoshong. Having not talked to him in a long time, I knew I was in for a big trouble.

It came as no surprise to me when he said, “Ao Ngwana wa ga Ramankele o ntatlhile, o ntse ole kae?”

I quickly recalled sweet-bitter times when he used to be BOPA Bureau Chief in Kweneng stationed in Molepolole while I was in Letlhakeng. Though under resourced, we delivered under his leadership.

Mr T, who cut a fatherly figure that was inherently felt in the Molepolole Rural Administration Centre (RAC), shunned showing off unlike other senior officers did in the district, but instead chose to remain humble before anyone irrespective of their social standing.

Mr T, was an easy going character, who was also time conscious person regardless of whether he slept late at night. His early waking habit, which I later came to admire, was usually pronounced on trips especially in the district while covering Members of Parliament.

He would woke up from a classroom where we had lodged at around 4am and light a Cadac single burner stove to warm water for bathing and start preparing his breakfast.

By the time members of the community including the tribal administration staff start trickling into the kgotla, he would be listening to the radio waiting for the meeting to start. 

One of his former colleagues in the department, Mr Sefhane Phuthego said he came to know the Mr Tlale when he joined the department in 1978. 

He said Mr T taught him court reporting and cautioned him against advancing his opinion.

He said as a curb reporter, Mr T taught him many things and relied upon him when he was financially broke. This gesture, he said, was extended to anyone.

Mr T had fascinating stories bordering on what he encountered during his early days as a reporter especially while embarking on difficult undulating land terrains he had to traverse in the Maun region while covering news events.

There was this intriguing yet disturbing particular story about a “troublesome” driver whom he never cease to wonder whether he was doing things out of sheer ignorance or simply to test Mr T’s patience and knowledge.

He said this driver would at times drive at break neck speed while visibility was poor.

One day by the grace of God when they were just about to go beneath the rear of a heavy duty truck it suddenly showed its red tail lights from the cloud of dust and the driver applied breaks just on time.    

Mr T holds Diploma in Journalism from News Agency Journalism for Non-Aligned Countries in India. He was employed in the public service in 1975 and rose through ranks until he retired holding the title of chief assistant information officer.

Former Director of Information Services, Ms Kebareng Solomon wrote in part in Mr Tlale’s reference of 2010 that; “Mr Botswelelo Tlale retired from the Public Service after 31 years of dedication, loyalty and hard work. These qualities saw him rising from junior reporter to bureau chief at the time of his retirement”.

“On a personal note, I have known Mr Tlale for 20 years. He is amiable fatherly figure with great sense of humour,” Ms Solomon wrote.

Mr Tlale, who was born in July 11, 1947 in Shoshong, leaves behind his wife, three daughters and a son. He will be buried in his home village on Saturday. Ends