Fifth BAIS assesses state of HIV epidemic
But the 24-year-old affair stood the toughest test of time Bontleng Ward councillor collected empty liquor bottles and sold them to fund his campaign
Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Edwin Dikoloti recently launched the fifth Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS V) to assess the state of HIV epidemic and the impact of efforts to control it.
The survey results are expected to not only help guide HIV programming but also enable government to direct resources where they are needed for epidemiological control. The survey was originally scheduled to begin in 2020 but was stayed due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is expected to reach approximately 13 500 randomly selected households and interview 28 800 people. BAIS V is led by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW), Botswana National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA), Statistics Botswana, and the National Health Laboratory. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is providing funding under PEPFAR as part of the Population-based HIV Impact Assessments (PHIA) being conducted in PEPFAR-supported countries. Dr Dikoloti said the national survey will provide valuable and first hand insights on the progress made so far as well as identify and quantify the existing gaps. Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Botswana Craig Cloud observed that one of the biggest problems faced in the HIV fight currently is fatigue.
“We have been fighting HIV since 1985 in Botswana. But this is a marathon and like with any good marathon, you have to know the route and map of where you are going, otherwise you will waste your time and money and you may not even reach the finish line. “Botswana has demonstrated a strong national commitment to its HIV response, and has succeeded in reaching two of the three 90-90-90 targets. BAIS V is going to give us the map we need to reach the finish line of this fight”, he said during the launch.
Councillor Phanzi Lekgaotswe of Bontleng ward in the Gaborone South Constituency finally married his long time sweetheart, Nomaswanzima Yane this past weekend after an eventful 24-year love affair.
“We have been together for a very long time and I am very happy that I finally managed to marry her,” said Lekgaotswe. The two-legged wedding ceremony was held at the bride’s home village, Kanye and in Bontleng at Lekgaotswe’s residence in Gaborone under very strict Covid-19 protocols. Donning their matching traditional outfits, the bride beamed with excitement as she was ushered into her new matrimonial home. “It is a happy day for both of us. It has not been an easy journey, we faced many challenges but somehow survived it all,” Lekgaotswe said.
DATING A POLITICIAN
Nomaswanzima met Lekgaotswe when she was only 18 years old and fell head over heels in love with him. However, her parents would never agree to her having a boyfriend at such a tender age. And so she kept the affair a closely guarded secret until she was busted by pregnancy at age 20. “We had nothing and many could not understand why I loved him. It did not help that even some of his friends did not like me much. But somehow we chose each other over and over again,” she said.
But the worst was yet to come. It was her boyfriend’s joining politics that almost buried their relationship altogether. At the time she played a supportive significant partner and went house to house campaigning for her man, an act that left others bitterly envious. “A lot was said and done in an effort to tear us apart, they wanted to turn us against each other and I must admit it nearly worked. He found himself caught in a dilemma, he needed to be voted into power and it was the same voters that were busy whispering nasty things about me to his ear,” she said. Nomaswanzima was accused of lacking manners and campaigning against her lover instead of supporting him. Some women, she said, even went to the extent of calling late at night just to infuriate her. When they found her at Phanzi’s home, they gave her a contemptuous and mocking look that pierced her heart. During rallies, others tried to prove that Phanzi was still a bachelor by throwing themselves at him.
“He had to be subtle with them because o ne a lopela tlhopho. He could not show his disapproval lest everything blew off. This brought conflicts between us,” Nomaswanzima said.
Now, with the benefit of hindsight, she realises it is not easy being with a politician.
“Most women who are dating politicians do not have it easy. But being your partner’s greatest support system is what sees most relationships through. Communication is also very important, politics has no permanent friends, one can turn into an enemy within 24 hours and sell you out to the highest bidder,” she said.
BEING A POLITICIAN AND A FAMILY MAN
When he joined politics, Lekgaotswe knew it
would not be easy, after all politics is a very dirty game. He was however pleased to have his wife beside him. He admits that it is not always easy to balance politics with family chores but he tries.
“We did not have money (during our election campaigns) and I went about collecting empty liquor bottles for re-selling. I knew that it was important that I do not temper with my family finances hence the hustle.
“I made P3000 and later P6 000 and the money helped greatly to appreciate the efforts made by my campaign team,” Lekgaotswe said.
But the biggest lesson he has learnt so far is that politics is not all about money but reasoning with your voters and making them understand what you intend to do once in office.