After Big Brother- Motamma\'s Newfound Love

Source : Kutlwano

Author : Pako Lebanna

Location : Gaborone

Event : Interview

Article: Pako Lebanna
Photos: Gothusang Lesego

They say a beautiful personality earns one respect and that is the case with Motamma Sesinyi, a Motswana beauty who has chosen to be hands on in her service to the community.

Having started out as a model before attaining beauty pageant success, winning the Miss World Tourism Botswana in 2012, Motamma gained continent-wide fame as a part of reality television series Big Brother Africa: The Chase in 2013. 

The Serowe-born lady, who holds a Master`s Degree (MSc Agricultural Engineering) conferred by the University of Botswana (studied for at the then Botswana College of Agriculture), has found gratification in being of service to those around her.

“It is important to give back to the community,” she tells Kutlwano in a wide ranging interview.
Motamma lives in Block 3, Gaborone, where she is an active member of the Village Development Committee (VDC), ‘Ntebele ke go lebele` Neighborhood Watch Crime Prevention Committee. She has also been at the forefront of the formation of Rekindle Monana, a new organisation aimed at empowering the youth in the area.

“Our area, Itumeleng Ward, consists of Block 3 residential and industrial area in Gaborone. As a VDC member, I managed to identify the fact that some of the youth struggle with social issues. Some are idle when they should be taking advantage of available opportunities to study, gain employment or start their own businesses,” she says.

Motamma serves in the Rekindle Monana executive committee as public relations officer, alongside the likes of Kabelo Sehuhula (chairperson), Taolo Ntsokwe (vice chair), Lorato Semula (secretary) and Ompelege Keorapetse (treasurer).

March 19 saw the birth of their first community outreach programme.  “We had representatives from Broadhurst police, our local councillor, Ramonnanyana Baikatlhodi, as well as philanthropist and motivational speaker, Onalethata Mpebe, inspiring the youth.  Mpebe mainly deals with HIV related issues, and this was just the beginning, as we aim to motivate the youth on different issues,” she says.

Tshiamo Raditladi from NACA gave insight into higher percentages of HIV infection among women, at 20 per cent compared with 15 per cent for males.  “Each year 10 000 new people are infected, and HIV is rife in the 15 to 39 years age group with teenage pregnancies on the rise. So sex education is essential from a young age and people should be serious about protection,” reckons Motamma.
Motamma adds that they want the youth to stop having a sluggish attitude towards life, when there are many opportunities around them.

“Of course there are challenges in life but there are many opportunities out there. We will make it a point to inform our peers about scholarships, available tertiary education courses and business opportunities as well as motivate them against social ills,” she says.
With thousands of followers in her Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, Motamma feels she can also use social media to inspire the youth. 

She was in the same Big Brother show with the likes of South Africa`s Angelo Collins, Pokello Nare of Zimbabwe, Beverly Osu of Nigeria, Botswana`s Zibanani ‘O`Neal` Madumo and Feza Kessy of Tanzania, among others.
“We keep in touch, we communicate through social media, in particular we have a WhatsApp group,” she says as she displays their day`s chat on her phone. She regards her former Big Brother housemates as family.
“We advice each other; highly supportive of everyone else`s activities,” she notes, before adding, “but over the past year, I`ve had a child, my whole way of thinking changed.  I`m no longer much about the spotlight.  Yes, I will do television in future if I get the chance but for now, my thinking scope has broadened since the birth of my child,” she says.
Motamma owns a company called Charnwood that is split into two, the first component focusing on what she studied at BAC; gardening and landscaping as well as agricultural engineering.
Her modelling and television background has inspired the other component of her company; focusing on corporate branding, lifestyle and image consultancy, marketing and public relations as well as talent management.
Add to that her community work where she has proved her attributes to lie far beyond her physical exterior.