08 May 2018

Mr Thabo Mosiane is a bus conductor that no one could just ignore as his deep commanding voice lures unintended attention every time he opens his mouth. 

Not only do his trades of plying the Ramotswa-Gaborone route and deep voice make him a talking point, he is one of the few graduates who have refused to be swallowed into the dust of poverty as a result of unemployment. 

 “I graduated from the University of Botswana with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing) degree and I joined Air Botswana for a two year internship programme,” Mosiane reveals. 

He said to improve his competence, he saw it fit to sponsor himself and further his education with a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing, which he completed in 2016.

He was recognised as one of the best students in Africa and earned himself an award from BrandSchool Africa, which delivers the course in Africa on behalf of Digital Marketing Institute in the United Kingdom. 

Unfortunately for him, when his internship came to an end, Air Botswana was going through a restructuring processes, so he was not hired permanently. 

This did not crush his dreams as he got a job as a bus conductor in one of the Ramotswa-Gaborone buses. 

In an era where most educated youth prefer to stay home if they cannot find work in offices than to be seen doing jobs that they are overqualified for, Mr Mosiane proves the exception. 

Though he admits that it has not been easy being a conductor as some of the passengers tend to belittle him whilst others come in bad moods, the determined young man says he maintains professionalism to deliver exceptional customer service to his passengers. 

He says there are challenges he faces on a daily basis, but they do not deter him as the job enables him to interact with different kinds of people especially people with disabilities and the aged, which he enjoys. 

Mr Mosiane says helping his customers gives his soul peace and happiness, boldly adding that his daughter is his biggest motivation. 

“There is no way my child is going to lack when I am alive, have hands and am in good health to provide for her. I work hard because I want the best for her, also the support I receive from my girlfriend inspires me to do better each day,” he says. 

Mr Mosiane is currently administering four social media pages for different small businesses that have engaged him to help shape their digital strategies for them to achieve their goals. 

 He says though he is underemployed, he will not let it kill his digital marketing passion and he does not want his mind to rust. 

The young man dreams of one day having a small digital marketing consultancy firm and even aspires to go beyond that. 

Mr Mosiane encourages the youth to go out there and engage in what can at least sustain them whilst they still look for their desirable jobs as sitting home and being miserable can never be a solution. ENDS