15 Aug 2013

Research has shown that majority of people in Botswana are living in debt and afraid to share their financial troubles with others.

Director of Maitisong, Mr Gao Lemmenyane explained in an interview at Galo Mall where the group were performing their drama: Pula! Money Matters that conversations about financial distresses were not popular among people while families and relationships had broken down due to money matters.

Through the show, Mr Lemmenyane said they wanted to convey a message to general public that financial troubles could be easily avoided unless the affected persons were able to share their problems and seek help.

He further said they were using theatre as a way of encouraging people to engage in meaningful conversations about their financial problems. However, he said they were not under the illusion that after their single show people would be able to share their problems and get help.

“Our aim is to spread the message which will make people understand that it is possible to get out of debts through meaningful conversations,” he noted.

In an effort to reach out to many people, he said they were on a countrywide tour which they re-started sometime last week after having started in April this year with shows in Gaborone.

He explained that they had realised that people were opening up about their financial problems with some even sharing their experiences on how they got into such situations.

Some of the issues they got to hear, he noted, were that some people were leaving beyond their means due to overspending on luxurious things which people could live without.

In addition, Mr Lemmenyane asserted that some audiences informed them that they got into financial troubles because they wanted to get the riches some churches promised they would get if they continued financing the church.

So far, he explained that they have almost completed touring the Southern region and were now touring the north and had been to Serowe, Selebi Phikwe and Palapye. He noted that throughout their shows they received overwhelming feedback.

During the shows, he mentioned that they engaged the audience to get their views on the message they are trying to convey with the drama.B