23 Sep 2019

When her name was called following a long pause that whets revelers appetite and anxiety to finally celebrate their queen, 24 year old Khwee native Kesetse Baoreng knelt on the stage, succumbing to emotions.

She could not bring herself to believing that she had outshined the other fair ladies to the Miss RADP Central District crown. Her emotions could not be helped by the pandemonium that broke when she was ushered in as the fairest of them all.

At top six, Baoreng was asked to state the whole intention of affirmative action to which she replied that it was meant to empower young people like her at remote areas through programmes like Miss RADP.

Her answer together with her performance on casual wear, traditional parade and evening gown parade stole the judges’ hearts and earned her nod to the district’s crown after an exhausting Friday night that slipped into an early Saturday morning.

For her efforts she went home P4 000 richer and will represent the district at Mr and Miss RADP finals in Gaborone, November.

In a post-show interview, the ecstatic Baoreng  challenged other youths from remote areas settlements to partake in Mr and Miss RADP pageants so as to light up the future for the upcoming generations.

She said by so doing those who have been developing cold feet towards competing in the pageants would find living examples.

The Miss RADP queen said she intended to expose Sesarwa culture to other communities and present herself as a nucleus towards nurturing the culture.

She called on young people from remote areas to sow patience and self-belief in themselves, adding that  they also stood a fair chance of conquering renowned pageants as Miss Botswana.

To achieve such a feat, she advised that pageants like Miss RADP should be used as springboards to bigger shows.

The Khwee lady follows in the footsteps of predecessor queens from Malatswai in 2013, Mokgenene in 2014, Lepokole in 2015, Zoroga in 2016, Gojwane 2017 and Moralane last year.

For his part, Mr RADP fashion show 21-year-old Ain Dithupa of Gojwane said his win was a shocker since all the male contestants had put up stellar shows.

He found his win as a psychological boost to the fellow Gojwane youths whom he said doubted his capabilities based on misconceptions.

He also said that he sought to demystify beliefs that pageants were feminine and would weaken and reduce men into quasi females.

Dithupa appealed to young men to partake in Mr RADP fashion show with a view of empowering themselves.

Dithupa won P3000 and a berth at Mr RADP Fashion Show in Gaborone, November.

One Oreage Laolang clinched first prince title and P 2000, whilst Seabe Kepaletswe got second prince and walked home with P1000.

Dithupa takes over the district crown from Kgato Chabaya of Kedia. Mr RADP Fashion Show only started last year following a realisation that the male child from the remote settlements was left behind.

Speaking at the event SPEDU corporate communications manager Shiellah Moribame-Moakofi said that Mr & Miss RADP had transformed the lives of young men and women who partook in the pageants.

“…some have receive formal employment while others are engaged in sustainable income generating projects which were funded by Central District Council with stringent budget which are beauty parlour, poultry projects and small stock projects,” Moribame-Moakofi said.

She challenged competitors that as ambassadors of affirmative action to be agents of change in their localities so as to inspire the youths.

Kgosi Ezekiel Masilo of Bobonong invited the guests and show attendants to visit tourist attraction spots in the area and help advertise such areas. Ends