2013 Review - 10 most popular articles in MmegiOnline
Thalefang Charles | Friday December 20, 2013 12:55
Here are the 10 most read MmegiOnline articles, starting with the most popular:
1. “Motswana dies at TB Joshua prayers.”
Story by LAWRENCE SERETSE. First published in The Monitor on Monday 2 September 2013.
The story was about the death of a prominent Motswana magistrate, Lorraine Makati-Lesang, who died in Nigeria while seeking prayers from popular Nigerian pastor TB Joshua of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN). The story attracted huge feedback in Facebook posts and also trended on Twitter. “Touch not the anointed” became a popular comment by many who believe TB Joshua is a Man of God. SCOAN responded to the article with a rather ambiguous video that was supposed to clear the air as to what had really happened. The video was played repeatedly on the church television channel and posted on YouTube.
2. “Feza and O’neal’s love blossoms outside the BBA house.”
Story by MPHO TLALE. First published in Mmegi on Thursday 22 August 2013.
It is a love story about the romance that began live on continental reality television show inside the confines of Big Brother Africa (BBA) house. When housemates O'Neal Madumo from Botswana and Tanzania's Feza Kessy left the house, their millions of followers throughout Africa were wondered whether their love would continue to grow. After Mmegi sat down with the couple popularly known as Oneza, the story attracted many wellwishers. It seems everyone loves a good love story.
3. “Skelemani warns Kenyatta on ICC.”
Story by BAME PIET. First published in the Mmegi Tuesday 12 March 2013
After Uhuru Kenyatta won elections to become the President of Kenya, Mmegi carried a story quoting the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Phandu Skelemani, saying Kenyatta, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity charges at The Hague, should not set foot in Botswana because he was not cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC). The international press picked the story up and all major news networks subsequently led their Africa sections with it. The Skelemani story sparked a ‘Twar’ (Twitter War) between Botswana and Kenya. Later that week, government spin artists tried to save the country’s face, but the damage was done. An apology purported to be from the Botswana Government turned out to be a fabrication. It was a while between relations between the two countries thawed and warmed to a point where President Ian Khama was invited to Kenya’s 50th anniversary of independence last week.
4. “Beauty contestant enrages audience with gay remarks.”
Story by MPHO TLALE. First published in The Monitor Monday 29 April 2013.
This was a report from the Miss Botswana grand finale thatcomes ahead of the Miss World peageant. One of the top five finalists, Sharon Seno Mathers, also known as “No.16,” was asked to state two challenges facing Botswana youth. The first challenge she mentioned was homosexuality, raising a range of emotions in the audience. 'Homosexuality is a disease that can be cured,' she said in a rather poor attempt to regain her poise. The reactions continued for days MmegiOnline, Facebook and Twitter.
5. “60,000 for Bishop Zondo’s holy water.”
Story by MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE. First published in The Monitor on Monday 11 March 2013.
In March this year, over 60,000 people queued up at Ditshupo Hall in Gaborone to buy supposedly holy water from South African pastor, Zondo. The story reported on the desperate crowd that patiently queued up to buy the water that is purported to make bad luck disappear and unlock doors to blessings, prosperity and healing. Depending on the quantity, the so-called miracle water was selling for P10, P25 and P50. Many comments criticised Batswana for their gullibility.
6. “Khama’s brush with death.”
Story by MONKAGEDI GAOTHOBEGWE. First published in The Monitor 29 April 2013.
The story was about President Khama’s close encounter with death when he was suddenly attacked by a caged cheetah at Sir Seretse Khama Barracks in Mogoditshane. Even though the story came a few days after the incident and so cheetah’s scratch marks on the President’s face had healed, the story attracted huge international media interest.
Story by BAME PIET and VICTOR MUYAKWABO First published in The Monitor on Monday 21 January 2013.
A report on how a contingent of police officers and Ministry of Health and Ministry of Trade and Industry officials raided Tswana Pride poultry farms at Notwane just south of Gaborone. The farms are owned by BDP treasurer, Satar Dada. The story reported how Btv was told they had better not air the raid if they knew 'which side their bread is buttered'. The story followed revelations in the Patriot newspaper about how Dada’s chickens were injected with an excessive amount of a brine solution to keep them tender and raise their weight.
8. “DIS probes TB Joshua ‘agent.’”
Story by LAWRENCE SERETSE. First published in Mmegi on Tuesday 20 August 2013.
This was about how a mob attacked Nigerian prophet TB Joshua’s 'agent' Ishmael Segoea, accusing him of swindling thousands of pula from them. The money was supposed to be travel expenses to visit TB Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).
9. “Ntsoro raves about miracle money.”
Story by NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE. First published in The Monitor on Monday 16 September 2013
This was another report concerning foreign pastors and their ‘blessings.’ The story reported on how music and TV personality, Joel Keitumele, also known as Ntsoro, testified about miracle of money from Heaven through the famous Malawi's youthful prophet, Shepherd Bushiri. Ntsoro, who is also a famed comedian, is reported to have acknowledged receipt of P900 from heaven while other people said they received so-called miracle airtime. Those who received nothing were blamed for lack of faith. The story sparked another round of snides between ‘fire’ churches and mainstream denominations.
10. “Commando, Comrade & Cheetah”
Story by TSHIRELETSO MOTLOGELWA. First published in Mmegi on Friday 21 June 2013.
This is a story about how a Gaborone man, Phillip Tlhage, found himself in the DIS office in Phakalane where he was interrogated by, among others, DIS director general Isaac Kgosi and a man called Commando. Tlhage found himself after he allegedly made a purportedly malicious comment after a cheetah nearly mauled President Khama. 'E mo hositse, e kabo e mmolaile. E kabo e mo gontse matlho a,' he was alleged to have said.