Lekopanye Mooketsi
19 June 2009
Veteran broadcaster, Geoffrey Motshidisi, popularly known as 'Rraagwe Malaakatse' or 'Moshombororo' is back on the airwaves with Radio Botswana (RB1). Moshombororo, who re-joined the radio station in November, handles the afternoon 12 to 3pm shift.
He was driven by passion to re-trek to the old radio station. "It was not for other things.
I grew up in the studios of Radio Botswana. I love it. I have passion for the job".
Motshidisi joined the radio station in 1971 at the age of 23. He had just completed his Cambridge when he embarked on his long journey in broadcasting.
He was an all-round presenter who took a special interest in sport reporting.
He was so popular as a sports presenter that a South African artiste composed a song in his honour.
This song was always played before the sports programme. Moshombororo used to present the popular music programme 'Rakotoleakgwetla' which is still running.
In his hey-day, Motshidisi was one of the doyens of broadcasting when there was only one radio station in the country. He commanded a huge following among listeners across the country.
Motshidisi still enjoys himself in the studio just like he used to in the good old days. He was given a rousing welcome on his return. He was tickled by the ascendancy of his previous apprentices to senior positions at the station.
He counts the current Director of Broadcasting Services, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo, among his apprentices.
"Most of the people that I trained hold senior posts. They know what to expect from me. They know I am a broadcaster," he said.
Motshidisi is also impressed by the state of the art equipment that was not available in the old days.He said the equipment is also user friendly. "During our days we did not have such facilities. It was a surprise for me," he said.
The only thing he is not happy about is that some of his favourite LPs are cracked. It is also not easy to find some of the old music because most of it is now on CDs.
He said there are two types of listeners; the young and the old. He caters for the older generation.
One of Moshombororo's trademarks is cracking well timed jokes on air. "I create jokes that fascinate the listeners," he says.
Unlike the sophisticated young presenter, Motshidisi also talks in the ordinary man's language. He talks about traditional Tswana feasts like mokoto and ditlhako tsa kgomo.
He treats his afternoon shift like he is in the kitchen, dishing out different menus.
Moshombororo says he has been getting positive feedback from the listeners about his programme.
As far as he is concerned, Radio Botswana should have no competition because its objective is clear. He said the radio station simply transmits information to the people.
The veteran broadcaster says radio has changed over the years and he embraces change. But he is disappointed in the youth because they believe that radio is a platform for addressing the English speaking crowd.
However, Moshomboro does not hold grudges against the youngsters. In fact, he gets along with young presenters that he works with.
He has found them to be cooperative. They benefit from his vast experience, while they also tip him on the latest technology.
One of the RB1 presenters, Thuso Letlhoma, says it is a great honour to work with the seasoned radio journalist. Letlhoma worked with Moshombororo in the when they covered Parliament together.
"He is a wonderful person," says Letlhoma. Moshombororo is always making people laugh when he is on the airwaves, he points out.
He says there is much to learn from the veteran presenter. 'Thuzoski', as he is affectionately known, says as a young boy he used to follow Moshombororo's enlightening programmes in the 80s. He is one of the people who inspired him to go into radio.
He says people like Moshombororo will help Radio Botswana retain its originality.
Before he went back to Radio Botswana, Moshombororo set up the new radio station, Duma FM, with his former colleague at Radio Botswana, Moreri Gabakgore. The two radio veterans established the privately owned radio station from scratch.
Moshombororo says Duma FM targets old listeners but they employed young presenters. He was the one who trained the youth brigade. He was engaged in reading the news as well as editing. When he left Duma FM, he was the news editor.
But it is at the studios of Radio Botswana where Moshombororo feels most at home.
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