REMEMBERING BRUCE
Ambassador Bruce Palai’s burial this Wednesday
The burial of Mothusi Bruce ‘Rabasha’ Palai – the Ambassador of Botswana to China - is set for this Wednesday in Makgophaneng ward, Mochudi, his home village.
Bruce, as he was affectionately known by his legion of friends, acquaintances and colleagues across the public service, which he served for over four decades, has been described as a distinguished diplomat, and a gentleman.
Speaking Tuesday at a memorial service in his honour, the Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Dr. Lemogang Kwape recalled that he knew Bruce from his days as a softball player for Vikings Softball Club, which boasted the most feared pitcher in Labbeaus Peloewetse and which players he said “spoke with a twang.”
Bruce was part of that group and according to Kwape, always kept his glove in his back pocket. As a diplomat, Bruce first served as permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva and then was assigned to Beijing, China in 2017, where he served until his death on Saturday February 21st at Bokamoso hospital.
Kwape said that it was during Bruce’s tenure as envoy in China that the Tswana-Sino relations “grew exponentially,” culminating with the state visit by President Mokgweetsi
Maissi to China in 2018, which Ambassador Palai coordinated including the visit to Botswana early last year of the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi.
Bruce’s friend from their high school days at Molefi Secondary School, Advocate Sidney Pilane , had everybody in stitches as he recounted the ‘naughty’ things they used to get up to as young boys with Bruce, Labbeaus, Monty Chiepe, and Ashford Mamelodi.
But he also spoke as a family member and expressed gratitude for the treatment that the government of Botswana had shown towards Bruce since he fell ill two years ago and rather than sending him back home, resolved instead to keep him in China to receive the best medical care.
He also applauded the government for moving heaven and earth to eventually bring Bruce back home, practically in his sickbed when it mattered the most. Bruce had been attended to by his wife, Lesego all the while in Beijing and according to Pilane, there were days when he could not go to the office, yet he so badly wanted to because that is what he lived for
Resident Ambassador Lapolagang Caesar Lekoa also spoke highly of Bruce’s humility, his unassuming nature, yet such an accomplished intellectual and diplomat.
May his soul rest in eternal peace