By TPA Watchman

Who, other than Bothata Bothata can testify to the vicissitudes of life – a boundless mystery, wrapped in an enigma?

For his is a tale of the kindness of Fate, the virtues of patience and the strength of resilience in the face of adversity. Here’s a typical Motswana young man faced with unemployment.

Like many other youths in the city of Gaborone, he is a graduate but finds himself pacing up and down the streets of the city, thinking and wondering where his next meal is going to come from, or worst still what he’s going to tell the landlord at the end of the month.

However, Fortune smiles on him. He chances on a job advertisement at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. They are looking for a Driver. He grabs the opportunity, tries his luck and lands the job.

Months later, his employer realizes that he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management! Startled at this discovery the employer cozies up to Bothata, and even encourages him to register with the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) in order to benefit from job openings.

But on this Tuesday afternoon, the 27^th August 2024, he’s wearing a grin across his face. He radiates happiness.

And indeed he should, for he’s among the 112 recipients of Doctoral and Masters’ Degree scholarships offered to public servants from 17 different Ministries and Departments by the Government of the Peoples Republic of China.

He has attended the launch of the scholarships by the newly-arrived Ambassador of China to Botswana, His Excellency Fan Yong and Tebogo Mogotsi of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The place is the Chinese embassy in Gaborone’s plush suburb, Extension 11. Beaming with gratitude at the opportunity, Bothata, explains to The Pan Afrikanist that he has enrolled for a one-year Business Management course at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing, China.

Among the 112 recipients, 18 are Botswana Defence Force (BDF) officers. But among the recipients, Bothata is having an animated conversation with Khumo Kainaba, an Assistant District Coordinator based in Gantsi at the National Aids Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA).

She has apparently enrolled for a two-year Business Management course at Harbin Institute of Technology. Unlike Bothata, who says he will cross the bridge when he gets to it, when asked how he is going to apply the skills he will acquire in China – Kainaba is forthright!

“I am going to use the skills in my daily work on my return. And since the course deals with planning and organising, it will be an added advantage when I apply for management positions”, she says confidently.

Another beneficiary, Masego Mogodu, the Director, Regional Cooperation at Foreign Affairs tells the gathering that she will use the opportunity to learn Chinese culture and to benchmark and bring opportunities back home on her return.

Ambassador Fan Yong was proud to host the reception, announcing that he presented his letters of credence to President Mokgweetsi Masisi the previous day (Monday), at which the President reiterated his country’s commitment to strengthening the diplomatic relations with China.

To that extent, Ambassador Fang said that President Masisi announced that he will be leading a high-powered delegation to this year’s Forum on China-Africa Cooperation slated for September 4 – 6 in Beijing, China.

For her part, Mogotsi encouraged the recipients to make the best of their studies and come back to lead a robust public service capable of managing a private-sector led economy.

© TPA2024