24 Jun 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi visited the Kasale family on June 22 to offer his condolences after the passing of Beata Kasale-Kabango last Monday (June 18).

President Masisi, who was accompanied by First Lady Neo Masisi, said Ms Kasale-Kabango played a pivotal role in the growth of journalism in Botswana.

He said as a pillar in journalism through The Voice Newspaper, she made sure that other people’s voice and opinions were heard.

Mr Masisi said Botswana as a democratic country did not inhibit the freedom of press and newspapers were allowed to report on different issues bearing in mind the rights of others.

He said it was not only the Kasales who have lost, but the nation at large had lost a nation builder.

“The nation is still reeling in shock at the sudden passing of Ms Kasale-Kabango,” he said.

The President said The Voice staff should not be discouraged, but should continue with the spirit of journalism instilled by Ms Kasale-Kabango to ensure that the paper keeps voicing the people’s concerns. Ms Kasale-Kabango’s brother Fred Kasale said they were saddened by the sudden death of  his sister as she was a pillar to the family. He said Beata was the pillar whom everybody, especially grandchildren, liked to hang around. The family was closely knit and shared jokes together, all thanks to Beata.

A family member, Ms Soso Lebekwe-Mweendo thanked the President and the nation for the support they had received. She appreciated the messages of condolences that had been pouring in since the passing on of Ms Kasale-Kabango.

Meanwhile, multitudes of mourners among them First Lady, American Ambassador Earl Miller and other dignitaries as well as journalists (local and international) thronged Marokolwane Farm, the home of Ms Kasale-Kabango near Rasesa to pay their last respects on Saturday.

Speakers described the late Kasale-Kabango as a pillar, a unifier, and mediator, charitable and generous person. Many said she was an inspiration who touched the lives of many through her dedication and commitment to journalism and reminisced on the footprints she left in their lives.

A friend Mr Jeff Ramsay said Kasale was a golden soul, a true friend guided by empathy and adherence to the golden rule without trying.  “She gave more than she expected.”

Mr Ramsay said she was a great listener, understood people and was always considerate of others, adding that she served social justice as she connected with people she came across with viable and reality check as she had a sense of what was happening everywhere.

“Beata can’t be replaced, the only thing we can do is to emulate and remember her always. She was a force that reconciled. Let us find comfort in her legacy,” Mr Ramsay said. Women in News (WIN) representative Ms Batsho Groth described Beata as persuasive and always eager to empower women, saying she had transformed careers of many  women in the media.

Ms Groth said Kasale worked tirelessly to address gender bias in the media and had vast experience as Africa strategist of WIN, adding that she never held back in showing and leading to the right path. “Beata was an asset, a priceless gift to various media facets, remember her strengts for her legacy lives on internationally and locally,” Ms Groth said.

The Voice representatives and business partner, Mr Donald Moore said Beata was a force to reckon with, highlighting her perseverance and endurance in making The Voice the national sensation that it is today while Ms Emang Bokhutlo, The Voice employee described Beata as more of a mother than a boss. 

Ms Bokhutlo further said she was tolerant, patient and made many to realise their utmost potential and was pleased with anyone who worked hard and monitored their personal growth. She also presented opportunities fairly among all her employees.

Botswana Editors Forum chairperson Mr Spencer Mogapi described the late Beata as an elder and mediator who treated people equally.

He therefore implored those who learnt from her to uphold her teachings and embrace her legacy, adding that she left an enormous void in the media fraternity.

Mr Philemon Mmeso of Botswana Media Workers Union said Beata encouraged and stood with them during the formation of the union.

“I recall the day she told me to be militant before I can be triumphant, on the same note she advised that we should reconcile with government,” Mmeso said.

He further described her as outspoken, dependable, reliable and actualised rights of the media, adding that her efforts and those of her compatriots who she mentored were outstanding and doing well in the media spheres.

In her vast profile, Ms Kasale-Kabango has worked as a strategist in various spectrums including market research, needs assessments and media development and evaluation with organisations including International Media Women’s Foundation (IMWF), Africa Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnership (ACHAP), and Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Press Union, Gender Links, Panos, OSI, OSISA and AMARC.

Ms Kasale-Kabango was also Africa’s strategic advisor for the WANIFRA-WIN at its inception. Facilitating for Gender Links, she developed Gender Policies aimed at mainstreaming gender in the workplace and content with seven media houses.

She was a media trainer for the Washington D.C. based IWMF as well as a Common Wealth Elections Observer and Interim chairperson of the Botswana Publishers Forum. Ms Kasale-Kabango was also a Human rights activist who worked with Basarwa in lobbying the government to recognise them as an integral part of the society.

She published a children’s book; The Treasure in the Garden with Heinemann, UK in 2001 and recently published another book; Moments of Independence. She also received the presidential Certificate of Honour in 2010 in recognition of her contribution to the development of Botswana through media and human rights advocacy. She is survived by her husband Patrick Kabango, four children, grandchildren and siblings. Her body was later taken for cremation in Mahalapye. ENDS