TABLE OF CONTENTS

72

PAGES

14

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

16 THE REVOLUTION OF AFRICAN PRINT

30 AMANTLE BROWN GIVES TRUTH AN EMOTIVE INTERVIEW

40

TRUTH MAGAZINE LAUNCH

54

FITNESS IN THE 21 st CENTURY

58

COMMON WINTER ILLNESSES

62 THE EVOLUTION OF TOURISM IN AFRICAN

WELCOME

TO OUR

MAY 2018 FIRST EDITION

A Truth Publication PTY LTD. All rights reserved , Reproduction without permission of publisher is prohibited. The copyrights and trademark of images featured herein are the property of their respective owners. Truth Magazine acknowledges

NOTE

EDITOR’S

A big welcome to all our readers to this maiden issue of Truth Lifestyle and Entertainment Magazine. Africa is our home, Africa is our pride and Truth Magazine deliberately focuses on telling and sharing African success stories and showcasing various African talent from across the continent. For too long, we have constructed our aspirations, dreams and lifestyle from inspirations that come from European designed magazines and our youth have moulded their goals around celebrities from the US, UK, France, Germany etc and yet we have successful and grounded celebrities right here in our continent. The DNA of our magazine and what separates us from the rest is how we stubbornly choose to focus only on our African stories and the bright stars that shine in this our continent of light. We hope you can journey with us and through our articles spread the word of how Africans like you and I are hanging the world in our separate corners of Africa. May our journey together be educational, entertaining and inspiring! Hillary Chataika Editor-In-Chief

To all our Truth Magazine Contributors, We wish to express our heartfelt appreciation for your contribution to our first issue of Truth Magazine which was published in May 2018. • • • • • • • • • • •

Mr. Ben David of Hair Essentials Ms Abigail Muzenda our Freelance Journalist Mrs. Mpho Chataika of Afrikanizm Dr. Tebogo Mokaila of Medted Clinic Mr. Victor Monggae of Tokafala Ms. Agatha Atlholang of Genuine Fitness Mr. John Chataika our Freelance Journalist Mr. Rudi Van Dyk of Oudtshoorn Ford Ms. Natasha Proctor the Make Up Artist Ms. Mandisa Mabuthoe the Poet Ms. Keletso Tshekiso the Counsellor

You guys ROCK!

L E A D E RS H I P WHAT IS LEADERSHIP ? Such a simple question yet it continues to vex popular consultants and lay people alike. Many definitions have been bandied about such as, “those who employ others” as Bill Gates once popularly said, or “the ability someone has to motivate and empower others to achieve a goal..” Leadership can be hard to define and it means different things to different people. In the transformational leadership model, leaders set direction and help themselves and others to do the right thing to move forward. To do this they create an inspiring vision, and then motivate and inspire others to reach that vision. In these series of monthly column contributions exclusively here, the TRUTH will dissect the quintessential elements of Leadership as well as interview leading figures both in the corporate as well as the political space to have a broad, comprehensive and nuanced look at Leadership in Botswana. We will start with demystifying leadership and shedding light on what it is not as this happens to be a ubiquitous misconception regarding how intrinsic leadership should be defined. Leadership has nothing to do with seniority, title or one’s position in the hierarchy of a company. Many folks talk about a company’s leadership referring to the senior most executives in the organization. They are just that, senior executives. Leadership doesn’t automatically happen when you reach a certain pay grade.

Leadership should not be attributed to personal traits such as charisma, boldness of action, et cetera, this does not lend one favourably to lead or to become an effective leader. Leadership isn’t management. This is a common problem where the two are often used interchangeably.Managers have specific deliverables which are quantifiable, measured, coordinated and so forth and Leaders lead people. 1 0 T R U T H M A G A Z I NE MAY 2 0 1 8

Leadership is not having mere followers, followers need guidance, need a vision to buy into and motivation to stay the course. Similarly leadership is not the presence of a vision. A vision needs execution and people to run with specific tasks in alignment with a desirable pre-determined objective or outcome. Empowerment is not leadership, one can be empowered but to achieve what stated goal? What Vision? Let’s now begin our Leadership journey and share the intrinsic elements that constitute Leadership and the traits required to be an effective Leader. Effective leadership includes strong character. Leaders exhibit honesty, integrity, trustworthiness and ethics. Leaders act in line with how they speak, and earn the right to be responsible for others’ success in the company. Strong leadership involves clear communication skills.

Vision

Leading means having a vision and sharing it with others. Only when you get to inspire others is it possible to share a common goal towards which to direct the efforts and dedication of the entire team. What is your vision?

Motivation

The leader knows how to motivate better than anyone else; it is one of their main functions as people managers. Through motivation, the leader channels the energy and professional potential of their coworkers, in order to achieve the objectives.

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Serving

The leader is at the service of the team, and not the other way around. Group members must have and feel the support of their leader, the tools needed to do their jobs properly must be available to them, they must have recognition for their efforts and know that there is a person paying attention in order to correct bad habits. That is all part of a leadership which serves the team, and not the opposite.

Empathy

One of the basic qualities of any leader seeking success is precisely emotional intelligence, that ability – often innate – that makes leaders put themselves in the place of others, understand their concerns and solve problems. Leaders know the secrets of their businesses and therefore can empathize with customers and members of their teams: that empathy gets to inspire and establish links that will ultimately lead to success.

Creativity

The definition of leadership also has to do with creativity. Good leaders are able to create an environment that will encourage all the members of their team to develop their skills and imagination, so that they can contribute to the common project and vision of the company. If you want to lead successfully, respect the creativity of others and learn from the people around you, their ideas will surely prove to be positive for you.

Thoroughness

A good leader sets the bar high for their people, because they want to reach the goals and make the best of their teams. Only a demanding leader will achieve great results. In addition to this thoroughness, the leader must know how to listen, in order to know the needs of the people, and then provide the necessary time and resources for them to do their job properly, and therefore meet what is demanded of them.

Managing

The leader must be at the forefront to lead and guide their team throughout the whole process until the goal is reached. But besides being that “torchbearer”, leaders also know when to step back and make their team take the initiative. In this way, the team gets the chance to develop, both personally and professionally. Pure management focuses on the tasks, real leadership focuses on the people.

Team building

True leadership is about working in a team to reach a common goal. People management is one of the most difficult tasks faced by leaders. Thanks to the positive attitude essential in good leaders, and the trust in their workmates, people get better results. Team-aware leaders take responsibility when something is wrong, and reward the group after a job well done.

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Taking risks

The leader is the one responsible for taking the risks that others are not willing to take. They are confident enough to make a decision, and if they make a mistake, the leader must have the courage to rectify, assume their guilt and take the right path without blaming it on the team. Good leaders know how to get ahead of their time, they see opportunities where others can’t and know how to spread the enthusiasm for their vision to try to make it real.

Improving

True leadership seeks continuous improvement. Leaders have the ability to turn the people in their teams into stars, people who have improved and developed their skills through the influence of their leader. In short, the definition of leadership has nothing to do with the hierarchy or position of anyone in the company, it has nothing to do with imposing views but with listening to those who know. Leadership is the attitude assumed by those looking for something different, committed to achieving a goal and whose conviction they manage to transmit to others through enthusiasm and optimism to reach a common goal. Next month we look at the importance of leadership and leadership styles. John Chataika @chataika on twitter

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Conversation with Victor Mong-gae (Hub Manager)

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n the next couple of issues of TRUTH we will be featuring entrepreneurs that have been successfully assisted by Tokafala and have grown their ideas into profitable and sustainable businesses. So, who is Tokafala and what exactly do they do? To answer these questions Truth sat down with Mr. Victor Monggae, Hub Manager of Tokafala.

We were founded by Debswana, DeBeers, Anglo American and the Government of Botswana and were launched in 2013, with our Hub opening doors in January 2014, to basically support the growth of SMME’s in Botswana, even though there were other institutions that were already there the Government still felt there was a gap in the enterprise development sector that needed to be closed.

We have our business Mentorship program that basically assist SMME’S to grow and reach out to new and lucrative markets, we work with these businesses to help them close those gaps that may hinder their growth. This mentorship program is targeted at what we may call mature businesses, they have been in business for some time and are basically struggling with the nuts and bolts to make it a success. Furthermore, we also have the Advisory program that is targeted at much smaller businesses in terms of activity and that runs for 4 months with one on one sessions in between the 4 months a day workshops. Each month they will come from 0800hrs-1700hrs, after the workshops we encourage them to go out and implement on what they would have learnt. As a follow up, we visit them at their own businesses, then we conduct the one on one sessions referencing the material they would have covered in the workshops. This allows us to ensure that these companies and individuals can implement and apply what we impart. That is how we run the advisory program. Our workshops are actually very practical and the tools and skills we share have been tested and have proofed to be effective. The mentorship program can run between 3-12 months and it is basically targeted at those that are more advanced and know what they are doing but still lack in some areas of their business competencies as I indicated earlier. We start by conducting a comprehensive business diagnostic, to try and unearth the issues that would be hindering growth in those businesses, after the diagnostic, we develop a work plan that will entail what needs to be covered to close the gap and, in most cases, you find that issues of sales and marketing, operations, HR, strategy, financials always come up. There is no “one size fits all” solution of course, each business is unique, we always look at each business and try to address their challenges on their own merits. From that work plan we start implementing and of course our interest is also on the growth of the business, that is very critical for us.

Growth in terms of revenue, job creation, diversified offerings and sustenance of these

businesses in the long run is what we aim to achieve with each client. But it is also true that we are interested in working with businesses where we will value add.

You would appreciate that with the government, they are interested in how many people are goingto be employed in those businesses, that these businesses actually improve their revenue base. The other partners are interested in insuring that these businesses help government diversify the economy and that they themselves can also leave a lasting legacy in those communities in which they mine. Specific programs that we work with especially with the mining houses, with Debswana for example, we have the Local Supply Development program and it focuses mainly on the two mining towns of Jwaneng and Orapa where we are currently working with 10 local suppliers to make them competitive and in the long run to be able to stand on their own two feet even in the absence of the mine. These local suppliers are recommended to us by Debswana directly.

Our interest is for them to be able to sustain the business and not only concentrate on the mining jobs but diversify their clientele. However, whatever business they are doing with the mine, we want them to do it well. We appreciate that they know what they are doing and, in most cases, have the technical expertise to complete their projects, we come in to bolster the management side of their operations to allow them to set strategies that help them scale and remain profitable.

With our normal clients we put adverts through print media and at times we visit industrial areas to find who could benefit from our services. We do have a frequent slot on RB1 on a Friday to share insights on the enterprise development landscape. We also work with other institutions and organizations to tap into their databases, one example is Women in Entrepreneurship Day, Barclays Bank and Chamber of Mines. We also investigate other organisations such as BNPC and CEDA and see if there are any potential companies we can assist there. At a personal level in this type of work, Mr Monggae is made happy when a client lands a lucrative deal that can sustain his/ her family for the foreseeable future and can employ Batswana that are struggling finding jobs . Truth Magazine in our next issue of July, will interview and showcase just how effective this Tokafala program is and whether the interventions that it provides are impacting positively on these businesses. Till next month, stay locked to Truth Magazine.

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FA SHION T HE RE V OLU T ION

OF AFRICAN

PRINT A F RI KANIZ M

”AUTHENTICALLY YOU” Mpho Chataika, CEO and Founder Afrikanizm is a couture house based in Gaborone, Botswana and we specialize in tailor made African Print materials sourced from all corners of Africa. We pride ourselves in making tailor made outfit for both females and males of all age groups and when you have an Afrikanizm designed outfit you can rest easy in the knowledge that you will not come across anyone wearing an outfit with the same material. We take time to understand your body size, skin colour and texture and preferences before we design an outfit that, as our slogan describes, is “Authentically You”. Africa is known for its colour, the bright sun, its magnificent landscapes, rich minerals and glitter, animals, hills, valleys and thunderous waterfalls, all this inspiration and colour shapes our identity of who we are. At Afrikanizm, we search for that piece of Africa that genuinely represents you and your character and tailor make outfits that bring life to your inner self. So, the next time you have a wedding, event or are just looking for casual authentic African Couture give us call and let us help you Discover You. Facebook handle @Afrikanizm Instagram handle Afrikanizm_bw 1 6 T R U T H M A G A Z I NE MAY 2 0 1 8

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TRUTH MODELS Our Truth models section is for the girl in Gaborone, Mochudi, Lobatse, Palapye, Maun or Francistown that has ever dreamt of being a model but has been told she cannot make it. This is our platform to feature unknown models with potential for commercial, fashion, swimsuit and lingerie modelling. Whether you are plus sized or petit, we are looking for YOU the girl next door. In this issue, we feature four of our beautiful, confident, spirited and signed Truth Models:

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Name: Dennis Gale Age: 22 Shoot Location: Absolute Masa Hotel Dressed by: Afrikanizm

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Name: Karabo Mangole Age: 20 Shoot Location: Absolute Masa Hotel Dressed by: Afrikanizm

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Name: Aobakwe Abby Koko Age: 20 Shoot Location: Absolute Masa Hotel Dressed by: Afrikanizm

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Name: Neo Cindy Sebogodi Age: 23 Shoot Location: Absolute Masa Hotel Dressed by: Afrikanizm

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MAY 2018 T RUT H MAGA Z I NE 29

Amantle Brown Gives TRUTH an Emotive Interview. By A big a i l Mu z en d a

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As fans it is very easy to forget that the celebrities that we listen to on radio and watch on TV are actual humans. People with feelings and some with a journey and story to tell that can leave your jaw dropped. We forget that they were once like us, simple individuals with dreams and desires of grandeur. I was struck by Amantle’s honesty and sincerity. TM What inspired the stage name ‘Amantle Brown’?

AB Well, I’ve always been known as Amantle since My Star singing competition. Soon after, I tried to release a few songs, which were more of Rnb in line with the likes of Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland. At the time I didn’t really know what I wanted to do and was undergoing a process of selfdiscovery. That is when the name Amantle BW came to be. I remember being with one of my friends at my house

rehearsing with the band, a song would come up and I would dance to a point were my friends compared me with Chris Brown, saying I’m multitalented in terms of my singing and dancing. They insisted that they call me “Amantle Brown.” I thought about it and “BAM” I liked it. TM The music industry is a tough industry to breakthrough. What hurdles did you have to jump to arrive at this level of stardom?

AB I would make requests to have my songs play on radio because they were not played at all, the style of music that I did was not as catchy, and people really didn’t pay attention to that genre. It took me 3 years to break into the industry and be that brand that is respected, able to get bookings and have my songs play on radio. I remember having to do quite a lot of collaborations with

artists that were already in the industry. Either way it was hard because doing a song with a brand that is already out there doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be appreciated for your input in the song, and they won’t push you as much as you would want them to. One other challenge for me was having to pause my schooling to pursue my music career and refine it to the way it has turned out today. TM How difficult was it transitioning from a regular girl to this household name you are today?

AB It was difficult, having to place my schooling on hold meant no more allowance and I was not staying at home, I was staying with my producers, five men in a two and half room where we all shared a room and the other room was used as a studio. Sometimes we would go for days with no food and we strained to get simple things

like toiletry, it was chaos! I

struggled to find graphic designers to design my sleeves and when I did find someone, the work would be so below par and removed from the quality I needed to break into the market. I had no fashion style for my brand and as a girl who grew up as a tomboy that transitioning was tough. I didn’t know how to put things together to portray the image I was looking to identify my brand with. I just needed direction and mentoring on how to build myself. TM There seems to be a departure from your original style of music (Black Mampatile) to your recent body of work like Follo. Why is this and how do you think it has increased or reduced your following?

AB I wouldn’t say there is a departure from my original style, because if you listen to Bereka “Mosadi” and “Sapelo” which are my recent singles, they portray more of Amantle Brown. With “Follo” and “Lagos” was when I felt I needed to test myself, to see if I had that capability to sound different and still be appreciated. The way people responded to “Follo” was what one would call a mixture of feelings, some felt like I was losing it while others liked it. Through that experience I gained fans and maybe lost a few, but that is not something that will stop me from experimenting. I am an artist and I cannot sound the same all the time, eventually people will get used to me. Consistency is important but in the same vain consistency without artistic freedom of expression does not allow you to grow as anartist. Hence, I always tell myself that I need to

try new things, that is the only way I will grow as an artist. Experimentation will equip me to be ready to collaborate with bigger artists like Davido, R Kelly or Beyoncé should the opportunity arise. However, I will never depart from my style because this is what differentiates me from any artist out there. TM It is now public knowledge that you and Juju Boy are in a relationship. How difficult is it dating someone in the entertainment industry?

AB Juju Boy and I clicked from the very first moment we met, we are people who have strong characters and have had to learn from each other on how to tone it down, to live and operate in the same space. A combination of two strong characters sharing, dating or in a relationship encounter a lot of conflict that arise because each will have his or her own interests. I wouldn’t say it is difficult especially when you have gone through a process of learning each other, I would say in a space of a year and half that we have been together we went through refining and seeing what we both like and dislike. We had to work around that information, how to live together, be in love, understand each other and appreciate one other. TM Do you feel like your collaboration on Follo has strengthened the bond between the two of you?

AB Very much, when we wrote “Follo” that is when we started dating and how Follo came about was quite interesting because we both wanted to be in each other’s space all the time.

The composition of this song was so beautiful and when we had to perform, everything was so real and natural because we lived the words in the song. Performing the song so many times around the country only made our bond grow stronger and stronger. TM How has music impacted your life and your relationship with your family?

AB I live and breathe music. It changed my life in that it has made me grow quick. I’ve had to be responsible and learn about savings, business structures, and not just think that I can do what I want anytime I want. I’ve had to think about how my actions will motivate other kids in a positive or negative way. I must think about what I want to do before I do it and most importantly music has given me direction and forced me to be responsible. It came as a shock to my family when I told them I wanted to pursue my music because growing up I was a bookworm, I would pass with good grades and always topped my class. I got admitted at University of Botswana to study a course I liked but had to abandon it. It was not easy for them to accept this but with time they slowly opened to the idea of me being a full-time artist. TM What’s your view on having a formal education?

AB Formal education is important, but our general view on it needs to change. It is offered to individuals to strengthen their minds, to give us the tools to think, create and navigate our lives. Most people have the perception that when you get formal education then automatically you will be successful but that is not always

the case. I was doing Mineral Engineering at University of Botswana and I had a passion for singing and I am so proud that I managed to get my formal education from pre school to my current level. If I did not have that knowledge I wouldn’t be able to create in terms of writing, reading my contracts and communicating with my clients. The fact that I went through my formal education is helping me through my everyday life. TM What’s your opinion on parents discouraging or not supporting children with a flair for the arts?

AB When I told my parents that I wanted to sing it was a big problem. I think they feared the unknown and whether I could make a success of my passion. Looking at our country, arts are not as appreciated as in other countries. The government will not be able to provide jobs for everyone, people need to start being innovative and creative to help or meet the government halfway. Our arts are that segment that needs to the tapped into to create more opportunities of employment. I would like to urge parents to let their children do what they are passionate about because success can be found in every field. The fact that I took that risk and went for my dreams has resulted in me living a better life and I believe that every child can live a life like mine.

TM What advice would you give upcoming musicians from personal lessons learnt?

AB As an upcoming artist, people always want what’s new and you’ll always have a chance to get people excited if you find the right piece of art. Upcoming artists are misled because they see someone on tv and hear your songs on radio and think it is so easy, but not realising that behind the scenes is where all the difficulties lie. I would like to advise them to read their contracts. Most people find a management company to help them break into the industry and neglect to read their contract thoroughly because of excitement. Not reading the contract leads to you being cheated and you will figure it all out when it’s already too late. When you are hot, everyone will love you and want to be associated with you not because they have your best interests at heart but because at that time they feel they can gain something from you. As soon as something new comes they will drop you. You must work hard, develop your brand, elevate your skill of writing and produce quality music. Being an artist may look like fun, but it is really a job and you need to start treating it like a job. TM How much emphasis do you place on financial management as an artist? AB I’m a person who likes living within my means. I’m frugal

about my finances and always reinvest in my art. Artists rarely have proper business structures to account for income and expenditure and yet this is so critical. I have systems in place to make sure that I understand what is happening with my money. Financial systems to guarantee that I have rainy day cash when bookings are down and when I do get booking and need to negotiate with clients I bargain from a position of strength and not desperation. I take my art seriously, this is a business and I treat it as such. TM Other than music, what business ventures or charities are you involved with?

AB I have two businesses that I am running but I do not want to talk about them, because I really do not want anyone knowing their mine. I am still digging to see what else I can invest in. TM Care to give us a scoop on your latest musical project?

AB This year I released two singles and a video in January and after three months I released “Bereka mosadi.” I am also planning on releasing my album possibly in September, I’m still working on that body of work. So far, I have 6 songs and I’m working on having 13 songs to complete the album. Though I do not know what to call it yet, I want this album to penetrate other African markets.

AUTO-CRAD

EVOLUTION OF THE MUSTANG

For more than five decades there

has been a stallion, a stallion , that not only shook the ever so evolving motor industry but created a new genre in itself , the American Muscle. The iconic Ford Mustang made its debut in 1962, the original 62 Mustang One two-seater concept car had evolved into the 1963 Mustang II four-seater concept car which Ford used to pretest how the public would take interest in the first production Mustang, the 65 Mustang was the automaker’s most successful launch since the Model A, it has since undergone several transformations to its current sixth generation. How do

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you reinvent a car that’s more than a car, an icon that forever changed the landscape of the automotive industry? You don’t. You just make it better. You bring it back to its original roots in a modern way. You create something that’s instantly classic and completely new. 50 years on, we’ve breathed new life into a legend, the all new Ford Mustang and best of all , now available on our African shores. Coming from this rich history an icon that stood the test of time, that kind of evolved to the benchmark we compare all other American big block performance vehicles to, with a voice like none other, there’s a certain feeling you

get when you start the engine and hear a Mustang’s iconic growl for the first time, a kind off roar that runs down your spine , a roar your end up longing for when starting that other vehicle, the all new Mustang’s design is just as thrilling, this boyhood image imprinted, from the hot wheels to the posters that bombarded our rooms, taking inspiration from classic airplane cockpits, Ford struck a balance between analog dials and digital feedback. The gear shifter is optimally placed. And the steering wheel just feels right in your hands, for a dynamic driving experience. A legend for its performance and style, Mustang’s technology is powerful, too. From a voice-activated communication system to Push-button Start, The Mustang always finds a way to take your breath away, equipped with a performance driven 2.3L Ecoboost petrol and the 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 engine, that is behind Mustang’s high performance power that will ensure an exhilarating drive. Begging the question, will the all-new twin-scroll turbocharged 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 engine live up to the standards its bigger brother the 5.0L V8 set ? , most certainly I’d say, giving the buyer a bigger selection with more than ample power and way easier on the pocket, price and running cost wise. Since the launch of the new Ford Mustang on our shores , Ford has most certainly seen a massive uptake in sales , especially the Ford Ranger Models, overtaking some of the major players currently at play in the African markets, I strongly believe the mustang’s launch contributed greatly to Ford’s sales success, not only adding to the numbers but also creating some well taken confidence and buzz around the brand, here’s to the next 115 years of Ford Motoring

TRUTH MAGAZINE

LAUNCH IN

PICTURES

BEN DAVID “The H a ir Ma es t ro ” BY HILLARY CHATAIKA

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t would be no exaggeration to class Ben David amongst world renowned hair stylists such as David Mallet (celebrity clients: Penelope Cruz, Nicolas Cage), Ted Gibson (celebrity clients: Angelina Jolie, Demi Moore) and Serge Normant (celebrity clients: Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker). As I sat interviewing this Zimbabwean trained cosmetologist, I was awe struck at his humility for someone with such an impressive pedigree of A list clients and CV. Ben has styled the likes of Matt Damon, Idris Elba, Jill Scot, Eve, Anika Noni Rose, Colin Salmon, Leleti Khumalo and the current first lady of Botswana Mma Masisi. He operates from his chic, multi-ethnic, Hair Essentials salon based in the prestigious Masa Centre, Gaborone.

The Dream Chose Me Initially Ben wanted to study engineering at school, and to use his own words “stumbled upon cosmetology and fell in love with it.” His first job was at a salon that specialised in African hair but because he did not want to be pigeonholed as a stylist, he decided to seek employment at a multi-ethnic salon. Before long, he got employment at Image International which was situated at Sam Levy’s Village, one of Zimbabwe’s most affluent mall’s. Rising above the racial stereotypes “I was getting stonewalled at every turn and the Rhodesian whites that operated at Image International were very territorial. It was as if it was an affront to the whites for a black lad to dream of working on Caucasian hair. I was miles away from the hood and they made me feel it.” Hair stylists generally work on commission and I could see the genuine pain in Ben’s eyes as he reminisced over his early challenges. Conversely, I also saw his face light up and beam with pride as he narrated how he finally broke

through what seemed to be mission impossible. “Rose, the then owner of Image International, recalled seeing a marketing qualification on my CV and asked me why I was not applying that skill to get clients. Realising

that the shop was situated in a high traffic area close to the banks and Bon Marche the equivalent of a Pick ‘n’ Pay or Woolworths here in Botswana, I decided to design a board offering a 25% discount on all coiffures. Just like that, clients started flocking in by the droves.”

Learning to retain clients With the challenges of getting clients now a distant memory and surpassing his white colleagues in terms of clientele, Ben needed a clear system on how to retain his clients, how did he do it? “Hair is a personal and sometimes sensitive affair and you need to truly listen to your clients. Armed with this

knowledge, I decided to build a rapport with every single client and offer a free consultation to better understand their hair growth and challenges. This in turn allowed me to better service them and the more adept I became at this, the more my clientele and referrals grew. I built a strong diplomatic clientele in a short period as a direct result of my prodigious handling of clients and natural aptitude for my art. My hard work did not go unnoticed by the owner of the Salon and I was promoted first to supervisor and ultimately managed the establishment.” Hello Botswana!

“At the time of my move to Botswana I was the only bread winner for my family and the economic situation in Zimbabwe was going to the dogs and had to move. I responded to a local advertisement from a Salon in Gaborone that was looking for a hairstylist that could handle Caucasian hair and got the job. When I arrived here the glossy picture that was being painted by the salon was divorced from reality and had to struggle to make ends meet. Struggling and contemplating moving I met a lady that encouraged me to stay. Young and smitten by her beauty and personality, I stayed and eventually opened my own salon,

Hair Essentials. Little did I know that this lovely local lady, as destiny had designed, would be my future wife and mother of four amazing kids.” Key to success Ben’s creative vision and exquisite use of colour has undoubtedly endeared him to most of the country’s high flyers and regular clients alike. Beyond the skill and mastery of his art, I was curious to find out what he attributes his success to. “In this business four things are critical for success, consistency in your art, good relations with your clients and support staff, rewarding clients for

their support and sound financial management.”

“A flashy setup means nothing if no one is in your shop. How you treat people does not end with the client but also your staff. Stay humble, make everyone feel respected and service them with passion. If you get this right, your clients will become your biggest marketing asset and ardent advocates. The client does not need you, you need the client, understand that and the reward will come.”

Winter hair tips “Contrary to popular belief we must not tuck away our hair in braids, plaits and weaves the whole of

winter. Moisture and strengthening treatments must be done in between the braiding and plaiting. Winter is the time when we need to step up on moisture treatments because our scalps and hair get extremely dry. The use of wigs is no longer frowned upon like in previous years. You can take advantage of freeing your hair a couple of times in winter and apply the necessary treatments. Try to do protective styling that does not apply too much tension on the hair. Invest in an intense moisture treatment that you can use between washes to replenish the moisture we lose to the atmosphere and follow up with a mask to lock in the moisture for a longer lasting effect.

Mizanitrue textures range is your one stop solution

for all your natural haircare needs No matter what kind of curl pattern you have, from your coils, curls to your waves. These products will definitely have a solution for you. As the name Mizani implies to balance in Swahili, these products have been designed with balanced moisture for natural curls, coils and waves, infused with Mother Natures’ olive, coconut and

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morula oil. We will start with the cleansing or washing part of the regimen, and walk you through some of the amazing products on this range and the fantastic properties they have.We have reviewed one line of products to help you get the best results, as these products are designed to work in perfect harmony to give you the ultimate haircare solutions that are going to change your haircare regimen into a lifestyle.

Mizani Moisture Replenishing Shampoo The Mizani moisture replenishing shampoo has the best properties to cleanse natural or processed hair without excessively stripping hair of its natural moisture. It cleanses gently leaving your hair soft to the touch. Its high moisture retention properties are attributed to the infusion of natures’ curl care complex technology-coconut, olive and morula oils. • Smooth’s conditions and hydrates hair • Rich in anti oxidants and essential fatty acids for healthier moisturized and defined curls • Paraben, Sulphate and Silicon free.

Mizani Cream Cleansing Conditioner Gently cleanses and conditions all in one step. It aids in moisture retention and maintains the curl pattern for a soft touchable texture. This product can replace your co-wash whilst giving your hair a lot more moisture, smoothness and defined curls. It detangles your hair, creating softer, shinier and restored curls from the infused coconut, olive and morula oil. This product does not contain harmful smoothing agents like silicones, parabens and cleansing agents like sulphates. It is also a time saver for the modern busy lives since you can skip the conditioning part after cleansing.

Mizani Intensive Restorative Treatment This is my favorite product on the back bar range. I can say it is the I.C.U for excessively dry and frizzy hair. You can literally walk in with a ball of frizz on your head and leave the most amazing curl definition, moisture, shine and hair that is soft to the touch. You can use this as your weekly treatment to replenish moisture.

Mizani Curl Defined Pudding This product is a heaven sent for all those with extremely coiled and tight curled hair. It is a light weight hold product with amazing frizz control and grease free shine. This product delivers glossy, defined curls without the crunchiness, which gives the hair a nice soft feel to the touch. It also boasts the magic ingredient from Mother Nature, coconut, olive and morula oil.

Mizani Twist and Coil Gelly This is the product that you can use for wash and go. You can use it for amazing coils, twist-out,braid-outs and even just as a curl activator on your texturised, s-curl or natural curls. Its amazing consistency allows for easy application and spreading of products on the hair. For those with hair that has got heavy shrinkage this product can also significantly reduce shrinkage for a more manageable supple texture.

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Fitness in the 21st Century: Seeing Beyond Weight Loss! Agatha “Boss Lady” Atlholang

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When the word Fitness comes up in any conversation, ten out of ten times, weight loss becomes the main topic of discussion. Sadly, it has been entrenched in our minds to think that exercise is simply for overweight people. In an age where information is literally at our finger tips, we still ask backward questions such as, “Why do you go to the gym when you are not overweight?”, or more stupendously, “I’ve reached my goal weight, so there’s no need to go back to gym.” It’s no wonder our local gyms are packed in summer and quiet in winter. As a Certified Personal Trainer, I believe that fitness has more to offer than simply shedding kilos. Journey with me as I redefine fitness in a way that will keep you motivated to live an active lifestyle. “Age ain’t nothing but a number” Getting older is no fun if it’s accompanied by aches and pains. Unfortunately, as we get older our bodies naturally deteriorate

at a cellular level. Much like our cars, if we do not service our bodies with safe exercise, proper nutrition, rest, as well as minimal stress, we too become smoking jalopies fit for the scrap yard. Let’s flip the script on age and let’s be proactive and make wellness our way of living. We can’t stop the aging but we can control how we age. “So when am I getting my grandchildren?....You not getting any younger you know” The most annoying question that cuts across all geographies, gender and races!! Forget the obvious selfish motivation for a second, when old folks ask this question in some instances, it’s predicated on the notion that if you have kids, when age starts taking its ugly toll they will be there to take care of you. Unfortunately, the reduction of the socially constructed gender disparity is a result of women becoming more independent

and involved in the business environment. Naturally, the hunger to excel and succeed abundantly is alluring to a point were marriage and having children has taken a back seat for most individuals. Faced with this reality, it only stands to reason that we ought to take better care of our health, so we age gracefully and still be able to fend for ourselves physically. Not everyone will end up married with children to look after them. Don’t get sick, my pocket is in recession! The economic burden that comes with aging, especially when we fail to eat healthy and partake in an active lifestyle, are draining. Non Communicable Diseases are on the rise and medical bills of the elderly are increasing. I’m sure we can all agree that prevention is better than cure. Start young, invest in your wellness account today, so that as you get older you worry less about medical costs. Till next time….Keep reading!

Practice and Purpose

This is a story about people in a land where Nazis are people to don’t forget that when you’re writing your papers about them and oppression and all the chosen people who were born in it don’t forget the gifted carpenters find your own oppressors to remember and raise your children unburdened by them let your fears build new religions around them

Dont’t forget that when you’re waging war against your our demons and the exorcism burns your eyes act like you believed the ones that told you they were blinded by the light And if it blinds you too remember to rejoice for you do not see colour because colour isn’t tangible like people, not the colour of oppression not the colour of rebellion not colours of the skins of the ones who never made it to the promised land the ones who died so you would not forget that most stories are about people people like Nazis and religious people brown people and tired people with people judgements and people things. People fears.

And don’t forget that religion, is a story about people in a land where Nazis, and people, are a lot like God don’t forget that when you’re smoking blunts with them contemplating freedom and the movies they will make of it don’t forget how movies are made, don’t forget how Nazi’s are made. Nazis are made out of people things, People flesh, people fears, people judgements and peoples swollen disabilities the kind of maladies that come with exotic diagnoses and self-medication, people things.

My name is Mandisa Mabuthoe, also known as Josiah King, a character that emerged from my poetry. Poetry is my occupation. I write about anything, sometimes on purpose, because professionally I am often at the mercy of prescribed themes and deadlines and my words have a predetermined purpose. Other times I write on impulse, which is how I started writing in the first place, writing because I feel like it, trying to make sense out of the world, my feelings and my experiences.

COMMON WINTER ILLNESSES DR TEBOGO MOKAILA

T

he long nights of winter are upon us and as the season changes the incidence of some illnesses increase. We start to get exposed to extreme low temperatures and low humidity. Some health problems such as asthma, cold sores and sore throat are triggered or worsened by cold weather. Furthermore, people tend to be affected by more Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Norovirus, Influenza Virus, Cold Sores, Dry Skin, Painful joints, Cold hands and feet. It is imperative for one to know how to avoid and treat these common ailments. You can prevent colds by washing hands regularly and if you get a cold, in addition to medication, use disposable tissues instead of fabric handkerchief.

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It is also important to keep household items clean.

A sore throat is almost always caused by a viral infection. Try not to eat or drink anything that is too hot because this will further irritate your throat. The best way to prevent getting flu is to get a flu vaccine as flu can be a major killer in vulnerable people. Norovirus is an extremely infectious stomach bug. Even though the infection is common in winter it can strike all year round. It causes vomiting and diarrhoea. When infected by thus virus it’s crucial to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

A range of weather related triggers can result in an asthmatic attack. Covering your mouth and nose with a scarf when you go out can minimise the risk of an attack in asthmatics. As we already know, prevention is better than cure. Eating healthy and staying active during winter can minimize your chances of getting sick. It is important to note that there is no cure for the above mentioned viral infections, it is best to prevent them and when the need arises seek medical attention for supportive treatment. It is never safe to self-diagnose and treat, when you are under the weather this winter make sure you consult your GP for accurate diagnosis and proper management.

Keletso's C or n er

Balancing a Tumultuous Marriage and its impact on your kids It is a reality of modern day life that not every marriage lasts forever. The divorce rate is alarming and consequently bringing massive change to the structure and health of the family especially when kids are involved. Research continues to reveal risks and effects of divorce on children. Hence the common question, “should I stay in an unhappy marriage for the sake of kids?”

The truth is, a prolonged unhealthy marriage might do greater harm than divorce: FACT REMAINS; IT’S AN UNHAPPY HOME! Parents have perhaps the most commanding influence on a child’s life. Naturally, other Microsystems (schools, peers, neighborhood…) in this ecology of influences exist. Sadly when parents are unhappy? The whole house turns somber! An unhappy parent, an unhappy child! The frustrations from the failing marriage will influence certain behaviors and tantrums which might do more harm than good to the children...This could impede their cognitive development and yes destroy them. FAMILY SPLIT Well, divorce is not an isolated event; it unfolds over years. The matter only gets more compounded when children are involved. The constant fights and turmoil caused by a fractured marriage can wreak havoc in 6 2 . T R UT H M A G A Z IN E MAY 2018

the lives of the kids ...The more the rifts are prolonged and ignored; the bigger the platform created for ‘side choosing”. In short, the family will be split into two camps ...Out of judgment, children often crawl towards the warmer parent, the vulnerable parent or whoever they like and sadly resenting the other spouse. This “choosing” adversely creates a combustible air of hating and blaming “the resented parent” forever. THEY MAY NEVER FORGIVE YOU Divorce is a painful chapter of life; no one is ever ready for it. It’s important that parents COMMUNICATE OPENLY with their kids during this difficult transition. They may not understand then but someday they will. A united expression of love for the kids in spite of parental differences helps to manage the effects of divorce. Without this, they could judge, make deadly assumptions

and may never forgive you. CREATES AN ILLUSSION OF A FAMILY Falling in love is easy, staying in love is another thing altogether. Getting married for love without preconceived expectations will help you weather the marital storms. However, when irreconcilable differences emerge and you choose to stay in the marriage for the kids’ sake….

this could do more harm. The kids should not blind you to the truth, you married for love, for better and for worse. If that does not exist what’s left is only an illusion of a family. Every parent wants to give their children a stable home but sometimes this is not achievable. If you heed the pointers I have highlighted in this article, you will, at the very least raise scared but unbroken adults.

Every parent wants to give their children a stable home but sometimes this is not achievable. If you heed the pointers I have highlighted in this article, you will, at the very least raise scared but unbroken adults.

The Evolution of Tourism in Africa B Y C ynthia M othelesi

Tourism in Africa is no longer about the

safari experience only. Tourism in Africa is now shifting to a traveler having the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of the people around them and get to experience tourism through the locals. The sharing economy has advanced tourism in that aspect. Today’s traveler is no longer interested in staying in a hotel, they want to stay with locals and live like a local. A typical example would be Airbnb. Airbnb is an online accommodation booking platform that allows a traveler to live with the locals. All you must do is sign up in the platform and you are ready to book your next home away from home.

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My name is Cynthia and I have been a member of Airbnb for the past six (6) months as a traveler and a host based in Botswana. I have hosted travelers from all over the world (Canada, US, Greece, Bahrain, South Africa) to mention but a few. I have had the opportunity to show them the beauty of my country through my eyes. I am a travel enthusiast, I love art, music, home décor and food and most importantly, I love meeting new people. What should you expect when you visit me in Gaborone?

I will pick you up from the airport or bus station in my Jeep. - Dinner at the house and we catch up over a glass of good wine or beer and chat music, food and art while listening to music because there’s no TV in my house. - I have three (3) beautiful dogs that are super friendly and love to play around In the morning we will have - breakfast and then from there we will drive around town to run some errands Shopping is mostly at market - places because we it is important to support local businesses From there we will stop over at - some local eateries depending on your taste buds A sundowner at a restaurant by the - Gaborone dam is in order If you love to cycle, you can also - join me in one of my cycling experiences where we drive out of town and then we leave the car somewhere and cycle surrounded by nature. -

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I have always wanted to host different people in my home and be able to show them how we live as locals. Our locals are now benefiting from tourism because of the sharing economy. I feel more fulfilled now because I’m living my dream and I can confidently say that I am truly the person I was genuinely meant to be.

Self-confidence to me is the ultimate form of power. To me, being selfconfident means being comfortable in your own skin and having the ability to be your true self. True power comes from within, so when you are healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually, you vibrate to your full potential. And we all have our good and bad days, but when I feel my best, I savor every moment of being able to perform to the fullest. And these tasks can be as big as successfully pitching a project at a meeting or hosting some guests on a city tour or just going cycling in the city outskirts to be surrounded by nature.

Not only does self-confidence give you a mental boost, but it also encourages others to vibrate at a higher frequency. I love seeing good reviews from my guest about their experience in Botswana, it gives me true confidence that I’m indeed doing a great job.

I feel like we are now shifted in the right direction in terms of tourism because now locals can host strangers and authentically share their lives with them while at the same time making a living out of it. And as a host, you are inspired to keep evolving and look for new exciting things to do and share with your next guests. I genuinely can’t wait to host my next guests. Botswana awaits you!

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MODERN ARCHITECTURE