31 Jul 2022

 The four Swaneng Hill School learners and their driver who died in 1976 when actively participating in  a fundraising event to establish the University of Botswana (UB) demonstrated an unmeasured sense of national pride as catalysts of socialist change.

Speaking at an event to remember the five in Serowe Friday, Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Aubrey Lesaso described them as visionaries as they demonstrated the lead ideals of both vision 2016 and 2036 before they were even contemplated.

“They espoused the development process underpinned by the spirit of self-help which has sadly waned today,” he explained. 

The event, in remembrance of  Maitumelo Kgari (15), Elizabeth Masake (18), Magdeline Khumalo (18), Sarah Mathware (16) and Mr Fantisi Gaothobogwe, was also part of UB’s 40th anniversary activities.

Mr Lesaso said the five laid a foundation for the country that a transformational agenda could only be realized if education was tampered with production.

 They did not see themselves as mere pupils but citizens conscious of their social responsibility to practically contribute to the national development agenda, he said.

He said education with production entailed infusing productive work into the curriculum.

That, he said, also resonated with one of UB’s strategic goals of becoming a research intensive institution with capacity to solve societal challenges.

Mr Lesaso said as government embarked on the Reset Agenda, self-organized work groups would become extremely important. 

“With dwindling government resources we need to revitalise that spirit of self-reliance that enabled us to build the Botswana that we are so proud of today,” he said.

Mr Lesaso said the accident robbed the young visionaries of a promising future they wanted to create not only for themselves but for the rest of their fellow citizens.

 He said the youngsters were responding to the clarion called by the founding president Sir Seretse Khama after Lesotho’s decision to nationalise University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (UBLS).

“The government of Botswana would hastily launch a nationwide appeal, the Botswana University Campus Appeal (BUCA) to raise R1 million within 12 months”, he said.

Mr Lesaso said the five also developed a credible urge to lend a helping hand.

UB vice chancellor Professor David Norris said it was wonderful that the four students had such incredible transformational and progressive mindsets in addition to a spirit of giving and volunteerism.They understood in their young age that higher education had a positive transformational effect on the nation’s economic strength and social wellbeing, he said adding that they steadfastly participated in bringing change that shaped the country and its tertiary education landscape. 

“Today at 40 we continue to benefit from their magnificent contribution,” he said.

Professor Norris said the best and most impactful way to honour the departed learners and their driver and those who survived was for UB to undergo  transformation that made it more relevant to society.

The university must commit to a mission that underpinned its purpose and function in society as a center of knowledge creation, a hub of skills development, a focal point in innovation and a pillar for Botswana’s economic development with the primary purpose of creating prosperous communities,  said Prof Norris.

 He said at 40, UB was re-inventing through a transformational agenda geared towards making it a research intensive, people-centered university ready to play a leading role in the implementation of the Reset Agenda.Professor Norris said there was no doubt that UB had played a significant and meaningful role in Botswana’s human capital development. 

He nonetheless said there was need to work hard to take the institution to even greater heights.

UB Chancellor, Ms Tebelelo Seretse said the five did not only symbolize the power that the youth had but also the impact that teamwork could achieve.

She said they served as a message to everybody to dream and to have a courage to work towards making a difference in the world. 

Thanking the parents and relatives of the departed five, Ms Seretse assured them that their children did not die in vain.

 The seed they planted benefitted the nation and countless people in Botswana and beyond the borders, she said.ENDS