Iqbal Ebrahim: Racism and tribalism gave me a thick skin
A peep into the old, racist Francistown through Igbal
Iqbal Ebrahim - former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) specially elected councillor - has refused to wallow in endless grief despite the twin evils of racism and tribalism, as well as the deaths of loved ones that traumatised him.
Instead, he resolved to accept reality and manage the challenges that came with the losses. Not only did his decision make his life meaningful, but that period of debilitating sorrow gave him “a thick skin.”
When his father arrived in Africa from India, he first settled at Mafikeng in South Africa where he stayed with friends before eventually proceeding to Francistown.
At the time, Botswana was a British protectorate and racism was rampant.
“Even the few educational and health facilities that were available in Francistown at the time were segregated”, remembers Ebrahim, who was born in 1951 in Francistown.
His mother could not use Jubilee Hospital to deliver because there was no space for non-whites such as Indians and Blacks. Their home was the only place for his mother to deliver him.
“Worse still, racial discrimination with respect to land distribution was institutionalised. For instance, Francistown was divided into two sections.
“The part on the western side of the railway line was reserved for Africans, also derogatively referred to as kaffirs, and Indians while the more developed eastern side of the railroad was dedicated to the white community,” revealed Ebrahim. He added that most of the land in Francistown and its environs was owned by the Tati Company.
“TC owned the land from the Francistown area, right up to the border with Zimbabwe. The land was sold to European farmers and when my father sought to obtain land here to open a shop, he was denied on the basis of race.
“For Indians and Africans, getting land under the TC regime was a battle and this unfortunately continued for some time after independence,” Ebrahim reminisced rather nonchalantly.
He added that because of the land issue, many Indian families left Francistown to settle in the neighbouring villages.
“My family relocated to Tshesebe and later Ramokgwebana where my father ran shops. It was not long however before an opportunity availed itself for my parents. A Jewish man sold his shop and land in the ‘whites only’ area.”
In terms of education, there was no school for Blacks and Indians except the Francistown Coloured School, which went only as far as Standard 3.
John Mackenzie was a ‘whites only’ school,” Ebrahim noted. This, according to him, compelled several families to send their children to Pietersburg for schooling, as there was no option.
The school went only as far as Standard 6 which was the qualifying grade for secondary schooling. The families had to relocate their children to Zimbabwe for secondary education.
“I could not complete my secondary education because I had to return home because my father died after being diagnosed with cancer.
“I was only 17 years old then but had to return home to run the family businesses and family,” Ebrahim, who had hoped to study medicine, explained.
Ebrahim’s mother, who had been bedridden for some time due to stroke, soon died too and so did his brother from a car accident.
“Challenges like those would make or break you. Ironically, although I never realised my dream of becoming a doctor, I had the opportunity to look after the people I loved the most when they were sick,” said the man who was president of Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) from 2003 to 2007.
Racism aside, Ebrahim, who was also deputy mayor of Francistown from 1974 to 1984 and Mayor from 1987 to 1994, had to contend with tribalism as well.
In fact, people would talk ill about him in his very presence because of his colour not aware that his Setswana was impeccable. He also understands some Kalanga. “I am not an aggressive person although I must admit that some of the things said were rather annoying but I would turn to the culprits and politely protest.
“Unfortunately, this still happens today although to a lesser extent. Some would get so embarrassed they would simply walk away while others would admit their fault and apologise,” he added.
One of the most memorable projects accomplished when he was in council was the Dumela Industrial Area in Francistown.
“Following the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) by Rhodesians in 1965, Britain severed ties with Rhodesia.
“This led to the closure of a lot of factories in Rhodesia because the British no longer bought or sold anything to Rhodesia due to the economic sanctions.
“Dumela Industrial Area was seen as an opportunity for Rhodesia to use Dumela as an industrial hub for manufacturing and selling goods such as blankets here back to Rhodesia because Botswana had a trade agreement with Britain.
“We had wanted to set up the factories at the border villages but there was no electricity,” Ebrahim recalled.
His view is that, Botswana’s development would have changed for the better if those in local or national leadership had a certain level of knowledge or experience in business.
The former Mayor is himself a renowned businessman who runs a property business in Francistown. He has also run a couple of shops in the past. Once upon a time, he ran a cinema business too. Ebrahim is worried that the current crop of political leaders do not meaningfully engage the community they lead to get proper feedback.
“Former President Sir Ketumile Masire was very consultative. He engaged with former leaders at different levels,” complained Ebrahim who is a life member of the ruling BDP.
In 1993, Ebrahim was awarded the Presidential Order of Honour by then President Masire for efficient and devoted service.