19 Dec 2024

When Zachariah Gareitse Sethaiso’s remains were interred on December 14, 2024 in Gaborone’s Ledumang Cemetry, it was indeed a sombre mood. 

Popularly known as Zachs, he had taken his own life a few days earlier aged 68.

In 1984, Zachs had a dripping curle. 

“Khele ya gagwe e ne e rotha,” remarked  a friend who had known him during those early years.

In that year, Zachs was assigned to teach a group of cub reporters photography, including the operations of the dark room.

“You’ve got to know what you are doing,” he told the young reporters who were hell bent on becoming news men and women at that time.

Needless to say his comment closed the minds of some of them to an extent that they did not learn anything new.

The year 1984 was when the writer of this article became a green horn in the then Department of Information and Broadcasting. That’s when some of us met Zachs for the first time. He spoke English only, and he always spoke it with a loud voice. 

And he used not to appreciate the Setswana way of life.

Mr Epena Ngatangue, a former deputy director in the Department of Information Services said they got used to each other through  assignments.

This means that they became friends. 

“He was never angry. He hated to be scolded for whatever reason. We clashed once while on a trip to Paris because he nearly missed a connecting flight,” Mr Ngatangue recalled. 

He said Zachs' familiarity with London lured them to venture into town while waiting for the connecting flight. While Mr Ngatangue was fuming, Zachs was least worried.

Mr Ngatangue described his fallen former colleague and friends as a professional photographer of note. 

He said his photographic shots gave editors a hard choice because they were all so good.

“Zachs ke motho yo o neng a ratiwa ke batho” he said.

Mr Mosotho Modirwa, Zach’s former colleague and now a councillor in Palapye said towards the end of his life, his former boss had slowly withdrawn from social life.

“Kana ke ene motho yo o re rutileng tiro yoo,” he said. “

He said Zachs was a professional who transformed the Photo Section  after he returned from training in the 1990s.

Mr Modirwa described the late Zacks as an amazing character.

Many at his funeral described his love for cleanliness and fine dressing. so long, Zeke. ENDS