16 Aug 2018

Like many stories that go unwritten, Moses Ndabazineng’s life story may not be a thick dossier that fits ‘from humble beginnings’ tag, but it has all hallmarks of a fairytale.

While the Biblical Moses was tasked with leading the exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt and across the Red Sea, after which they based themselves at Mount Sinai, Moses Ndabazineng tasked himself with the sole purpose of carving his life to an inspirational piece.

To eventually become a registered nurse, the 34-year-old Ndabazineng rode on a long, meandering and an unforgiving terrain that required a generous dose of patience and conviction.

In fact, his inspirational story has earned him calls to motivate students in Masunga.

Growing up at Nlapkhwane and born to a housewife and bricklayer, Moses rose from working as a security guard to a registered nurse.

He narrates the story of a young pupil who went to school without purpose until he eventually failed his Botswana General Certificate in Secondary Education. He earned 24 out of 48 points overall.

He recollects how it suddenly dawned on him that he needed to be serious at school to attain better marks so he could get where eagles soar.

However, his father told him to find a job since he was of age. He then left for Francistown, where he was employed as a security guard.

Even his mother would tell him every time he came home without books that, “O santse o tsile go disa,” to which he would concur.

In a maze that is life; one chooses the right path even amidst delays in realising one’s dreams, Ndabazineng is convinced.

In fact, sitting on the opposite of the table, oozing with confidence, Ndabazineng chooses his diction and weaves his syntax with purpose to avoid sounding like a movie script.  

In 2005 he was hired as a security guard at Red Guard Security Company for five months where he was later transferred to Masunga, cutting the distance he had to travel to his home village.

Until the company treated him to a rude awakening to a point where he sometimes would take home P250, owing to various charges, Ndabazineng was still in slumber.

From a security officer Ndabazineng applied for and worked as a Malaria vector controller for five months under North East council in Masunga. In the process he saved his money and enrolled with a driving school in 2006.

In his drive to a slow and tiring upward social mobility Ndabazineng then applied for an advertised post of groundsman, which he was later offered in April 2006. After only eight months he was promoted to a position of office messenger.

In the process of discharging his duties Ndabazineng says he excelled to a point where he was offered a position of senior administration assistant, which he turned down since he felt uncomfortable with it.

March 2008 Ndabazineng applied for the post of ambulance driver, which he ultimately got.

And as the youngest in office he felt challenged to join his age mates at better paying vocations and subsequently enrolled for form five and ultimately amassed 42 points at final exams.

It was from the pass that his present life was carved.

He then applied to all institutes of health sciences and colleges where he was admitted, but opted for Serowe.

In fact Ndabazineng was ignorant of how to apply for the University of Botswana, probably because his judgment was clouded by having worked with nurses as a driver.

He had always wanted to be ‘chauffeured’ while caring for a patient.

Upon passing his final exams, despite having faced challenges during the Serowe IHS schooling days, Ndabazineng was employed under Serowe District Management Team in 2016 and he is proud to have travelled his rewarding journey.

“So, a security guard can become a nurse in a short time like that?” Moses narrates how people were shocked at his spirited ascendance in life.

He packs a message for young people that focusing on what they want would yield them results unlike trying to impress people.

Now, he plans to enroll for degree course in nursing to further his dreams since his plan is not to retire in nursing. ENDS