09 May 2016

Mr Mpho Siele of Kenneth and Evelyn Siele Trust Fund, on April 30, started a cross country cycling tour to raise funds for Kanye-based Kgodisong Day Care Centre.

He was accompanied by his elder brother, Mr David Siele, in the first 20km of the tour to give him support, while the other two cyclists who had initially promised to partake in the grueling experience did not keep their word.

Speaking in an interview prior to the tour, Mr Siele an ex- drug addict by his own admission, said the month long tour was intended to raise funds to buy the centre a mini bus to transport children especially during harsh weather conditions.

After what he described as God’s mighty strength that saved him from a self-destructive 13-year journey doing drugs, Mr Siele explained that he also chose to sacrifice himself to express gratitude to the creator through the tour that would also involve addressing young people to raise awareness on the perilous effects of drug and alcohol abuse.

Mr Siele, who is the son of the former minister of local government, Mr Peter Siele, narrated that he was ensnared into drug abuse at the age of 15 by a movie which featured cowboys drinking and smoking dagga and got hooked soon after trying to experiment. Similarly, he said smoking for him all started with an urge to get a feel of what it was to crave smoke.

But his whole world changed after he decided to read a piece of a Bible page he was about to use to roll another joint. All along, he said he had never cared to read any Bible page he had rolled to smoke.

 He said he was ushered into a new world by the Bible words, “My son if you don’t listen to me who shall you listen to”.

He said he had all along tried to quit so much that at times he would look himself in the mirror and cry about what had become of him until God, by the power in his word, restored his life.

“If I had never indulged I could be far in life by now or if it wasn’t for the power that saved me I could either be dead, mad or in prison because of the effects the substance had on my brain. But I thank the Lord that he brought me this far to tell a story,” he said.

Mr Siele thus encouraged the business community and all Batswana to support the noble gesture. 

He revealed that he planned to turn the activity into an annual event with a view to touch many other lives. 

He thanked Kgosi Malope II of Bangwaketse and the Ministry of Health, Mahindra Botswana and Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture among others for lending their support to the cause.

He will address the youth at Kang, Ghanzi, Maun, Letlhakane, Francistown, Palapye, Mochudi, Gaborone and Lobatse and round off the tour on May 28. ENDS