24 Oct 2013

Not many people can just abandon their home villages in search of an uncertain future, more especially where survival is not guaranteed.

However, the daring ones are not afraid to transverse unchartered territories. Such people are sometimes regarded as fearless and dangerously ambitious. Such is the story of 37-year-old, Mr Ontibile ‘Doctor’ Dipheko of Maralaleng, who relocated from his home village to Tsabong, where he became the self-appointed DailyNews and Kutlwano distributor.

He spends his days by the Shoppers supermarket handing out the DailyNews to everyone who enters and exits the shop. His is not a well rewarding ‘employ’ since he depends on Kutlwano sales to accumulate some cash to sustain his livelihood.  

Much of the time, Doctor as Dipheko is affectionately known to his customers, spends time peddling the DailyNews for free in Tsabong under the scorching sun while many of his age mates are busy making a killing in other well paying trades.

What is strange about the newspaper man is that he is even contemplating on spreading his wings to the neighbouring villages despite his lack of resources. Through this daily errand of handing out the DailyNews and selling Kutlwano to the populace of Tsabong, Doctor is optimistic that his efforts could lead to the attainment of one of the pillars of Vision 2016, that of being an informed and educated nation.

Distributing these government media products was born of thorough meditation on the part of Doctor enroute to the realisation of Vision 2016. Up to now, Doctor has become synonymous with the DailyNews distribution around Tsabong and is slowly but, surely positioning himself as a Kutlwano salesman of repute.

Every day he knocks on the doors of every office convincing people to buy a copy of Kutlwano while simultaneously issuing out free copies of the DailyNews. The ‘News Doctor’ as Dipheko prefers to be named has since reformed from being a headstrong fellow to a respectable gentleman, who hitherto, has stopped cutting his hair and has taken to a more business like appearance and could be mistaken for one of Tsabong’s wealthy men.

Like public servants, News Doctor starts his distribution work at 7:30 am and knocks off after BotswanaPost has delivered another consignment of DailyNews whereupon he picks up some copies and issue to those doing their shopping late in the evening.   In the discharge of his duties, the newspaper man can even brave some bad weather conditions.

One case in point was a very windy day, when his visibility was impaired by a cloud of dust but, Doctor was busy with his distribution, arguing that a reading society must not suffer at the expense of wind. A true delivery man, Doctor is as swift as a Debonairs pizza delivery agent. Watch him pound and ease past the heavy sandy terrains to reach his target.

He sometimes couriers a few copies to the villages in the vicinity through some willing persons.  Like any other trade, especially that of government journalists, Doctor has earned himself some mocking from some disapproving fellows but, he continues undeterred.

“People criticise the DailyNews a lot and also mock me but, I know there are those people who appreciate my services and I won’t be discouraged,” he said with a sense of patriotism. He takes pride in the DailyNews and is angered by those who use the paper for other things other than for education and information.

The News Doctor attributes his good health to distributing the DailyNews as he walks long distances and therefore, exercises his body in the process. He consequently had to quit drinking alcohol just so he concentrates entirely on delivering the two papers timeously. The outspoken Doctor is assisted in his deliveries by one Botty Afrikaaner. ENDS