10 Sep 2018

At times, people tend to let their disabilities define who and what they are. They tend to give up on life and play the sympathy card to get their daily bread.

However, Mr David Motshweneng has risen above that.

The 71-year-old man said in an interview that this year marked his 16 years with Beavers Choppies Store in Molepolole.

He said he was born with no legs and that despite life challenges, he knew he had to find ways of providing for his five children and wife.

As his parents could not pay his school fees, he had to drop out at Swaneng Senior School whilst doing Form 2. It was from then that he started trying to make ends meet and was employed in one of the bars in Selebi Phikwe. He said with a salary of P80 back then, it was sufficient for him to survive.

However, he left and worked in Gaborone at Trans and Trade World spending five years in each of the shops working as a checker.

“God has always been with me. In 2002 I was employed by Choppies in Lobatse and I was later transferred to Molepolole,” he said.

Having started as a shelf packer Mr Motshweneng said he was now a shop assistant and was even more determined to make a better living for himself without taking to heart what people thought or said about him.

“I was born like this and believe I am unique and maybe if someone can be like me, they will suffer and cannot survive like I do,” he explained.

Mr Motshweneng said he built a home and has been able to extend it through SHAA, but ever since his wife fell sick his payments for the house were not consistent.

A devoted Christian and a member of St Paul, he said it has helped him to have faith and be strong.

“Reading the gospel and listening to preachers makes my journey in life easy and I feel fulfilled,” he said, taking note of the compassion from those who see him for the first time.

 “I take care of my transport fares and the bus stop is a bit far from my home,” he said.

Due to old age, he is lamenting that his strength is slowly diminishing hence it is proving to be a challenge living in his condition.

Mr Motshweneng, however, thanked former president Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama as he gave him an electric wheelchair which was supposed to relieve him of the difficulties he faced trying to move around.

However, he decried the huge amount of electricity needed to move the wheelchair, noting  that it needed to be charged after travelling long distances.

It is on that note that he had opted to use it only at weddings and funerals. He pleaded with the public, government and companies to help him with anything that could help him as he was now old.

For her part, Choppies manager Ms Godiraone Rannosana said Mr Motshweneng was a hardworker and one of the longest serving employees.

He said Choppies employed him under their initiative of helping people living with disabilities. ENDS