Residents in Botswana have reacted with outrage on social media after the government urged the citizens to donate money to reward the country’s historic gold-medal-winning Olympic team.
According to a statement released by the government on Monday, the fund would be a way for citizens to honour the athletes by “contributing rewards to our champions.”
Recall that Letsile Tebogo had brought glory to Botswana after he became the first African athlete to win the men’s 200m at the Olympics, bringing the country’s first ever gold medal home.
However, the government’s request for donations has paused the jubilant celebrations that had trailed the return of the Olympic champions for some citizens, who question why their taxes were being used to reward the Olympians.
Some countries in Africa have often rewarded the winners of Olympic gold medals, or the Africa Cup of Nations, with houses or great sums of cash.
Tebego has set an African record 19.46 seconds in the men’s 200m race, and also won a silver medal in the men’s 4x400m relay alongside his teammates at the Olympics.
On Tuesday, August 13, tens of thousands of people gathered at the National Stadium in the capital, Gaborone, to welcome the Olympic team home after President Mokgweetsi Masisi declared it a half-day holiday.
What They’re Saying
One user on Facebook had said;
“I would love to donate in support of the boy’s historic achievement, but unfortunately, I’m currently an unemployed electrical engineering graduate with a bachelor’s degree.”
Another user however, had suggested for the the cabinet to lead by example and donate 25% of their salaries.
Despite the objections to the fund, however, there have been some voices of support for the Olympic reward pot.
One netizen had even gone further to enthusiastically suggest for the fund to be open for anyone across the continent to send funds.
