09 Nov 2020

Mr Teto Wakwena’s story is an inspiring one. Perhaps the maxim, where there is a will there is a way, is a defining factor for his larger than life ambition.

At a tender age of five, his late father who was in the army then took him to the national stadium for the annual Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Day celebrations.

It was that magical moment during the aerobatic display by the BDF air arm that sparked Mr Wakwena’s passion for aviation and ultimately led him to flying lessons at Major Blue Aviation College.

His love for military aircrafts undoubtedly shaped his destiny.  Wakwena vows to compromise on whatever comes his way in order to fulfill his ambition.

Today he is one of the youngest commercial pilots in Botswana.

Quizzed on what his next move is, Mr Wakwena is hopeful of enrolling with the BDF 28 squadron and become a combat pilot.

To him the sky is not the limit, he even plans to fly higher and one day pilot the presidential jet, OK 1.

The 22-year-old Gaborone born pilot comes from a small family of three.

Armed with a commercial pilot license, multi-engine rating and instrument rating, Mr Wakwena has already taken to the skies in a fixed wing Cessna 172 and turbo charged Beechcraft Baron 58.

A high flying student in his high school days, Mr Wakwena is also an award winning second Dan black belt karateka.

He has represented the country in a number of local, regional and international tournaments.

He joined the SSKB Hayashi Ha stable in 2004.

Mr Wakwena is affectionately known as viper, a group of long fanged venomous snakes known for their instant fatal bite. Equally, inside the karate dojo he kicks like a mule and packs a punch as hard as nails.

He played different sporting codes at the BDF camp but chose karate because of the discipline the sport instilled in its students.

He fell in love with the sport after being inspired by the likes of his coach and mentor Ofentse Bakwadi and kata sensation Khaya Groth among others.

His talent was however identified by one of Botswana’s finest kumite athletes Rafael Reid.

He has been a national champion for many years and as he is still available for national team selection. Mr Wakwena is working tirelessly to keep his fitness levels on a higher ground.

There was a lapse in his training programme when he enrolled for flying lessons and is keen to get the good shape back and maintain it.

His word of encouragement to young people is to keep busy because ‘idle hands are a devil’s workshop’. ENDS