08 May 2018

Motlhaolosa Poetry Ensemble on May 6 honoured Lesego Mohutsiwa in Kanye, his home village, with a poem for his active contribution to the development of Setswana and its culture through his eloquent use of the language on Radio Botswana.

Guest speaker at the event and Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Dikgang Makgalemele said the gesture demonstrated that Mohutsiwa was not just a face in a crowd of reporter, but someone who touched Batswana in a special way, beyond his normal call of duty.

Makgalemele said the gesture also challenged the nation to appreciate Batswana who had served the country with honour like Mohutsiwa while they were still alive.

Makgalemele, who is also Member of Parliament for Shoshong constituency, applauded Radio Botswana for a deliberate move to develop culture through a programme called Dipina le maboko a Setswana, which he described as the only one of its kind in the country.

He argued that Motlhaolosa by extension, thanked the station for availing them a platform to showcase talent, but also a call for the national radio to do more.

Makgalemele commended Motlhaolosa for spearheading culture development, saying it was central to his ministry, through poetry awards at Limkokwing University, the Botswana-

Swedish poetry exchange, building culture houses in some schools and awarding of poems to former vice president, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe and another talented broadcaster, Lesego Kgajwane among others, using their own resources.

Kgosi Malope II of Bangwaketse for his part stressed that it was imperative for Batswana who had distinguished themselves to be recognised while still alive.

He argued that doing so could propel them to strive to become the best they could be.

Family representative, Tlharesakgosi Mohutsiwa said they were humbled that their son was being rewarded for years of hard graft.

His supervisor, Sakaeyo Jannie also described Mohutsiwa as a diligent hard worker who could be deployed to work anywhere in the department with ease.

Jannie expressed gratitude that Mohutsiwa was being recognised by Radio Botswana stakeholders.

“With radio it’s different because you get appraised by listeners and I take this as feedback from you,” he said. Jannie also thanked the organisation for rewarding Kgajwane two years ago. Likewise, he said appreciating someone when they were still alive was a noble thing to do.

Prominent lawyer, Tebogo Sebego, who went to Seepapitso Senior School with Mohutsiwa, described him as a kind, gentle and phlegmatic friend who never lost his cool.

He said Mohutsiwa, affectionately known as ‘Lesh Mo,’ was a well-groomed man who always stuck to the straight and narrow. He urged him to keep on, adding that he was an inspiration to many.

Before reciting the poem which was delivered to Mohutsiwa engraved on his framed portrait, renowned spoken word smith, Moroka Moreri said they were indebted to Mohutsiwa for his immense contribution to poetry development in the country.

Moreri said theirs was an acknowledgement that they could never have come this far without Mohutsiwa’s patriotic compassion.

Mohutsiwa with a teary eye, thanked his grandmother for grooming him into the man he had become, and dedicated the award to his late uncle, Otiti Mohutsiwa. Ends