04 Jul 2018

The writer of the book, Rising Against All Odds, Tshegofatso Lekone often referred to as Oroba is truly an embodiment of courage. 

Perhaps the author of Reinvented, Yvonne Mtengwa words best sums up Oroba’s daring approach to life. 

“When I met her, I was enamored by her wisdom and connectedness to her Creator,” she said.

Bold, strong and articulate are some of the adjectives Mtengwa described this larger than life character who had used her life experiences to bring hope where there was downright despair.

A greenhorn in writing circles, Oroba has penned a series of incidents that best describes the story of her early life.  Against all odds, she did not wallow in self-pity but did all that was within her power to rise against all the pain and the sting of death, dust herself up and face the world. 

Today, she is an enterprising businesswoman and owner of Tshego’s Empire, a manufacturing framed artworks and promoting ethnic designs. 

She has also dedicated her life to being a minister of hope, calling the discouraged and hopelessness.  All this is stuffed up in the 127-page book. Glaring graphics on outer cover depicting ancient looking tree whose roots and trunk appear lifeless amid budding flowery leaves gives away a lot with regards to the contents of the book premiered March this year. 

Perusing through the pages, one would be excused for thinking the roller coaster yet nerve-racking events are excerpts from an adventure movie. 

But they are a true a reflection of life experiences that had forever revolutionized Oroba’s perspective about life.

Growing up in a poor family of 10 and raised by a single mother in Lobatse, Oroba always desired that things would be different. 

Like many children her age, she harbored an ambition to lead a lush life with her husband and precious kids someday.

However, all this was not to be as her bubble was blown up prematurely in life. The motor accident that claimed the life of one of Oroba friends while traveling to South Africa would mark the genesis of an unlucky streak of mishaps that will come in quick succession to the youthful Oroba.

Just as she was trying to come to terms with a sudden death of a friend, her daughter took ill. While taking care of the ailing daughter Oroba ran over a man with her car who died on the spot. Meanwhile, Oroba’s first-born daughter would also succumb to cancer in 2010. 

The loss took a huge toll on her landing her at Sbrana Psychiatric hospital in Lobatse. 

Towards the end of 2011, she conceived and gave birth to a baby girl in August 2012 who passed on the same day. 

A fighter, Oroba, and husband were blessed with a baby boy, the long-awaited heir, only for them to hold their bundle of joy in their hands for less than a week. ENDS