...A conversation from the past
Source : Kutlwano
Author : Ndingililo Gaoswediwe
Location : GABORONE
Event : Commemoration
Years later and perhaps in keeping with his namesake in the Bible, David would join the Botswana Police Mobile Unit - a precursor to the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) – with a promise to protect his family.
When the BDF was eventually formed in 1977, David, still keeping his promise to protect his family, would become part of the first crop of Batswana men to be enlisted.However, a year later, February 27, 1978 to be precise, David and 14 others, who had also made a vow to protect their families, were killed in the line of duty in an ambush by Rhodesian soldiers at Lesoma. Thirty-five years on, Setlhogile still remembers vividly the vow his son made to protect the family.
“Ijoo joo! Se bue jalo, ngwanake e ne e le mogaka...e ne ya re a tswa sepodising a ya sesoleng a bua mafoko a, ‘ga ke batle go bona ntate a hulwa ke le teng, ke batla go mo sireletsa,” recalls Setlhogile meaning: My son was hero…when he left the police to join the BDF he vowed he would not stand by and watch his father being shot while he was there to protect him.
However, instead of just being a family affair, David`s resolve to be a protector became an undertaking that he would make ultimate sacrifice in the defence of the nation. Consequently, it is this ultimate sacrifice that has since 2011 seen Setlhogile travel from her home village of Tshane to become part of the BDF`s activities to honour their fallen heroes at Gaborone`s Extension 14 cemetery every February 27.
This year was no different. As army men in ceremonial gear stood still to the sound of a reveille - instrumentals intended to give hope to soldiers to bury the past and march on as the journey continues - Setlhogile seemed lost in a world of thoughts.
Conjuring up images, adding, dividing, multiplying and subtracting but none of the algebra formulas seemed to make sense as figures could not add up. Like a tape recorder, the octogenarian rewinded her memory back to June 7, 1956 when she was blessed with a baby boy she named David. While the BDF captured his name as Daniel and born in 1955, Setlhogile remembers his son as David and born in 1956.
Then came February 27, 1978, David was among 15 BDF members who died during the Lesoma ambush at the hands of the Rhodesian insurgency. Like a flower, David sprung up and then one afternoon he withered and like a shadow disappeared. He was only 22 years, just a year after celebrating his rite of passage to adulthood.
And akin to his mother`s first name, Goretetse, which suggests failure, his life was cut short! However, while David failed to live longer, the legacy he left behind would live longer. He promised protection and he did just that, sacrificing his life for Batswana to attain the 2016 Vision pillar of a safe and secure nation long before the young nation could even think of coming up with a vision document.
As is now custom, February 27 was a sombre moment as Setlhogile and other Batswana gathered at Extension 14 cemetery in remembrance of the servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of their nation.
Friends, spouses, children and parents of the fallen heroes huddled together in a small tent away from the unfriendly morning sun rays and one could read sorrow in their faces. Silence swept across the place and the three “Gun`s Volley” too failed to break the sombre atmosphere as attendants appeared to be still mourning their loved ones who died in line of duty.
As for Setlhogile, she could not stop narrating how she could be leading a good life were her second born son still alive. As she strokes her wrinkled cheeks to take a closer look at her son`s grave tag, inscribed Sgt Setlhogile D. in bold black, the granny revealed to Kutlwano how intelligent David was during his school days.
Setlhogile who hails from Tshane Village in the Kgalagadi Disrict has become a regular at the event and a granny to the BDF family. As one officer hands her a drink to quench her thirst from the harsh weather, the smart old lady says, “Baebele yare, sheboga tse di kgologolo di hetetse ruri, lebelela tse di sha tse di tlang.”
She is adamant that it is only her creator who knows her fate after losing other four children; Keabetswe, Tlhaloganyo, Dikatso and Ditiro. As they say, it is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all; Setlhogile has left the memories behind. She has dealt with grief in such a way that she has put her loss into a broader perspective that has today allowed her to continue living despite the engulfing void in her life.
Every year, a day before the month of love ends or two days prior in a leap year, the BDF celebrate these men who like many had dreams but gave them up in pursuit of the defence and security of their beloved country. BDF has lost more than 100 soldiers in and outside Botswana`s borders, affirms director of protocol and public affairs, Colonel Tebo Dikole.
The army men suffered demise in different countries such as Lesotho, Sudan and Mozambique in the name of peace in the region and Africa.
“Our hope is that such events should become national events as there are unsung noncombatant heroes and heroines who have immensely contributed to the development of this county,” suggests Col Dikole. He cited as an example the annual Remembrance Day that is celebrated to honour World War II heroes. Commemorating such events, says Dikole, can also be used to celebrate those who fulfill the country`s vision pillars. ENDS
Teaser:
On July 7, 1956 Goretetse Setlhogile was blessed with a son. She named him David. As norm would dictate between mother and son, the two must have during David`s fomrative years had a hearty conversation together. Probably somewhere in the conversation, Setlhogile must have hinted something about the Biblical story of David and Goliath which captured her son`s imagination...
