18 Aug 2024

The recent coronation of Ms Gorata Sego as Miss RADP 2023, a coveted title in the community development sphere, was a testament to her unwavering commitment to uplifting the marginalised, especially the Basarwa, who are often the target of hurtful stereotypes.

For the Mabesekwa born beauty queen, the road to success was marked with challenges, but her determination was a beacon of hope that lit the way.

Beneath Ms Sego’s cheerful disposition lay a spirit that refused to bow down to the limitations imposed by preconceived notions.

Her journey to breaking barriers began with a simple, but profound realisation that her people, were more than just the tired tropes of the past.

Ms Sego declared, her voice resonating with pride: “We are a people with a rich history, a vibrant culture, and a hunger for progress. The idea that we are lazy, that we do not care about government assistance programmes is simply untrue.”

She asserted that Basarwa should not be defined by their past, but their potential.

“We are farmers, we are artisans, we are teachers, we are leaders, we are just like any  other tribe in Botswana, eager to learn, to grow and to thrive,” she said.

Today, Ms Sego stands as a sentinel for her people, her shoulders carrying the weight of the community’s hope, a clarion for change.

As she dons the crown of Miss RADP, she does so not just for herself, but for the generation of Basarwa who have been overlooked, who have been judged unfairly, who have been denied the opportunities that others take for granted.

“Today, I stand here, not to prove a point, but to open a door,” her words ringing with conviction.

The story of Ms Sego, a symbol of progress, is a tale of humble beginnings and tenacious growth.

It all started with a grant of P100 000, a small seed of opportunity that would eventually blossom into a bountiful harvest.

“With the grant, I bought 40 goats and to date there are 78 of them and have already sold 10 to patch here and there whilst at the same time saving to repay the loan part,” she added.

She also bought 10 sheep and three cattle as a way of diversifying her farming business, which she nurtured with the same tender care she would give to a fragile sprout.

Under her watchful eye, they multiplied, her flock growing with each passing year, mirroring the growth of her ambition and determination.

When Ms Sego got rejected in 2021 when she had applied for the Youth Development Fund (YDF), she did not despair. She shouldered on until 2023 when she got funded.

She enrolled with Botswana Red Cross Entrepreneurship course, which helped to enlighten her on the application process.

Ms Sego noted that her farming business was performing well though drought proved to be a challenge.

She said that she was forced to buy feeds for the goats and milk some to feed the kids as some of the mothers did not produce enough milk.

“You see, Miss RADP beauty pageant opened doors of success in my life,” she added. “It is a platform that gives birth to  careers of many women who are quite influential leadership gurus.”

The 26-years-old and mother of one, who holds a Diploma in Fashion and Textile, said she liked costume, which course allowed her to explore her sense of fashion and strengthen her capabilities.

“I went to the competition intending to represent my rural village, Mabesekwa and I did exactly that. I was awarded P10 000 cash prize and P70 000 directed to my chicken farming project, which is about to commence,” added Ms Sego.

Ms Sego said she recently got awarded a 16-hectare field to help in running her project.

Ms Sego said her love for pageantry and fashion developed at a tender age when she competed, but only made it to top 10. She, however, never gave up.

She tried her luck again in 2023, her last year of her age qualifying for the competition, thus she gave it her all and she emerged victorious.

“My parents raised me to believe I could do and be anything I want,” Miss RADP added.

Ms Sego said Miss RADP competitions marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of pageantry and pushing the boundaries of tradition and redefining beauty standards.

“Miss RADP crushes stereotypes and embraced inclusivity in extraordinary ways”, she said with a smile.

She added that the pageant signalled a shift away from past pageants, which adhered to strict physical features. “Competing was a trailblazing moment for me, I felt much empowered and like I was changing society standards”, said Ms Sego.

Since inception in 2013, as the brain child of former Mahalapye East legislator, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, thousands young women have already participated in this event at settlement, sub-district and district levels.

The pageant has been getting better every year as evidenced by the gems that Miss RADP continued to unearth while the pageant’s goals and objectives had not changed.

Miss RADP is a gender empowerment initiative done under the auspices of the Affirmative Action Framework for remote area communities that was approved by Cabinet in July 2014. Ends