Volume 50 Issue 9 - September 2012 : Social

 

That love does not care for geo-political or social background. If you doubt the veracity of this statement come along with us to Maake, an amazing picturesque settlement in Kgalagadi, and meet Commando Tebete. Born, bred and loved in Maake, Commando knows this little settlement like the back of his hand. His home sits at the end of a little path that branches off from the main village path.

The path evokes memories of the biblical paradise as one passes through one of nature’s masterpieces - the Maake pan. Dry or full, this saltpan remains a marvel. When dry, its shimmering white surface beckons to man and animal, and when full it becomes a perfect theatre of the jungle as all sorts of flora and fauna, and indeed some smaller wild animals such as kudu, and springbok, descend upon it. Today the pan is dry – for here in the desert, rain is a scarce phenomenon. Villagers and animals finding it convenient to pass through the dry pan and have created a path right through it. From the path ensue numerous smaller paths, each leading to a hamlet, for the humble homes here are randomly and sparsely spaced, a development ostensibly influenced by the pan.

Follow this path westward and ask anyone where the Tebete homestead is, and you can bet anyone will take you there. His is a derelict structure  - a one- roomed mud hut that sits despondently in an unfenced treeless patch of ground. You almost dread to think what would happen to this dejected ‘shelter’ were it anywhere in the northern or eastern parts of Botswana, where a night’s rain would surely bring the structure tumbling down. Neither the man of this house, nor his woman enjoy living in this mock shelter. Jobs here, though are as scarce as a hen’s teeth, and realising that lazy hands could only make him poorer, Commando decided to make them busy. On this day, we find Commando sitting behind his “house”. The man is sorely cold, and the little warmth from the sun that he could get by basking is not enough. The man extends his cold hand as we exchange pleasantries.

Even for me, disembarking from a vehicle, the cold is too much. And this is the daily experience of the people here, for the desert is a place of extreme temperature –  scalding hot summers and painfully cold dry winters. Commando explains that he ekes out a living by tanning leather and fashioning products from it. The task appears simple but do not be deceived by what you see. He learnt the trade as a little boy from his elders but never exactly put it to use, until 10 years back when he got tired of being perpetually broke. Unfortunately at the time his sight began to fail him. No, he would not allow his failing eyes to deter him from doing business.

“…ke sale ke lemoga fa gone nka itshetsa ka diatla ke sale monnye. Botsipa ja go suga matlalo bone ke bo ithutile  hela thata le fa mo bo gompienong  ke lemoga fa pono yame e nyelela,” he says. The skillful craftsman traditionally softens and tans his leather. He first uses animal fat, preferably brain mass to soften the leather and then dyes it reddish brown using the root of a locally available plant called mositsana.

Commando mainly works with goatskin. His range of products include the bow and arrow bag (koma), sling bag and traditional dance attire, amongst others.   His supportive wife, Olakeng Mareetsane, helps him do the bead, which often accompany traditional dance attire. Commando believes that were it not for lack of a good market, he would be able to graduate from poverty, be able to build a proper house and feed his family. And realising he does not have a place to sell his merchandise, some unscrupulous people buy the products of his hard labour for peanuts and make a kill by reselling the items in towns and cities.

However, he is full of praise for the Remote Area Development Programme (RADP) for giving him some exposure. With the help of the RADP, Commando has travelled as far as Gaborone to showcase his talent. While many of his people have equally benefitted from RADP, Command feels, however, that more still needs to be done by the programme to exploit the abundant talent in his area for the betterment of the people’s lives. This, he reasons, will help his people diversify their economy from cattle and small-stock farming. Crop farming has never worked here, what with extreme temperatures and very poor soils. However, joy will one day visit this settlement, assures Willie Gaosafelwe, senior assistant RADP Officer in Maake. All that Commando and his fellow villagers have to do, is to hang in there, continue with their craft as government tries to secure funds and looks for better markets for their products.  “We sometimes take the exhibitors to Gaborone to showcase their talent.

Just recently some products were taken to the Poverty Eradication Pitso in Diphuduhudu. Thotloetso  ke gore ba tswelele  hela ka tiro e, ba seka ba kgobega marapo gongwe e tla a re Modimo o re gopotse  re bone makete golo gongwe,” he explains. Willie says they sent some ostrich eggshell beads to China and should traders that side get pleased with the quality, they might just strike a deal. ENDS

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