19 Jun 2016

 Hundreds of mourners descended on  Francistown to pay their last respects to Mr Robert Muzila and Mr Thabo Dube on June 18.

The two were occupants of a  Toyota Fortuner that collided with a Seabelo Express bus along the A1 Road on June 9. 

The accident also claimed four other lives.

Mr Muzila commonly referred to as ‘Daddy’ by his church members and Mr Dube affectionately known as Psalmist by his peers met their demise traveling from Gaborone to Francistown few hours after their live broadcast interview on Botswana Television’s morning show.

Mr Muzila was the executive producer of a gospel music show, Just Gospel, aired on Btv every Sunday at 10pm while the Psalmist was the presenter of the same programme. 

On June 6, Just Gospel scooped the first position from the Trumpet Africa Gospel Music Awards (TGMA) in South Africa after making it to the final nominations with other shows from Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

When speaking at the funeral, the deputy permanent secretary responsible for departments of information and broadcasting services, Mr Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo, said Just Gospel show started on Btv in January this year.

Mr Kaboeamodimo said 23 out of 26 shows were already broadcasted and the grand finale was to be aired on July 2. 

He congratulated the Just Gospel crew for the victory and their efforts in always making sure that production was of good quality.

Mr Kaboeamodimo donated two DVDs of recorded morning show that the deceased took part in prior to their passing. 

Mr Muzila’s funeral service was conducted in Francistown while that of Mr Dube was held in Tati Siding but they were both buried  at the Gerald Estate cemetery.

Mr Muzila was born on July 14, 1947 in Makaleng and he earned a Masters Degree in Development Economics in Manchester. 

He also held a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Economics from the same university. 

He worked in the public service for 30 years before he was employed by the American government as a project manager for BOTUSA. 

Mr Muzila was also a councillor for Moroka Ward between 2004-2009 and during that period he was the deputy council chairperson and the treasurer for the Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA).

He was a co-founder of Jehova’s Potters House Assembly church in Francistown. 

He is survived by his wife Prophetess Keorapetse Muzila, nine children and six grandchildren.

Mr Dube, who was known on Facebook as The Christian Guy, was born on November 28, 1987. 

He was admitted at the University of Botswana to study a degree in Environmental Science.

He was an interpreter at Jehova’s Potters House Assembly and the leader of the praise and worship team.  The Psalmist was also active in politics and was the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) information officer for the Tati East constituency.

He co-founded Tati Siding Association of Performing Arts and was the founder of gospel group, This is Praise. 

Mr Dube also worked for Baldova Investments as a graphic technician. 

He is survived by a fiancée and three sons. ENDS