Kenewang Rancholo was born and grew up in Nata Village in the mid sixties. Miss rancholo lived in Didibakwe Cattle Post,15k's from Nata village along the Nata Francistown road. Miss Rancholo attended nata Primary School from 1965 to 1971. After finishing Primary School she moved to Maun Secondary School from 1972 to 1974. Succesfully completing Seconday she accomplished her Senior year at Seepapitso Secondry School in Kanye from 1975 to 1976. Immediatly, after high school Miss Rancholo started working for Debswana Diamond Company in Orapa as an administration Trainee. Miss Rancholo worked for 31 hard years for the Diamond Company in Orapa. She finally retired at the age of 51.
Life in Nata Village in the early sixties was no walk in the park. Miss Rancholo and family, as well as the local Villagers had no tap water (cleean running water). The drinking source was the beautiful Nata River. A few years later water was brought in from Francistown, two hours drive from Francistown to Nata. Trucks would role in from town to drop off tanks of fresh water at Nata Primary School. Finally clean fresh water for the whole village.The line to receive water was long but well worth it. Growing up in the dark was no joke. There was no electricity for Nata Village either,lanterns with paraffin was the light during the night. Miss Rancholo was introduced to house chores at an early age. Collecting fire wood in the morning for cooking and heating up the hut was a big young lady's responsibility.
Nata Village was bare in the early days. The only cement structures were Nata Primary School, Police station, and one shop that belong to the Haskins family. The road from Nata to Francistown was nothing but loose gravel and very dusty. Nata Village had no clinic at this early age. The nurse practitioner was able to visit Nata once a month to see patients. Keep in mind Nata Village is located in the outback with live stock and plenty of wild life. The only means of transportation to and from town were the big trucks transporting goods from Franscistown to Maun. Village transportation was on foot or donkey rides to and from the cattle post for work assignment on the weekends. The cattle post at Didibakwe is 15k's from Nata near the now Nata Lodge. Nata Lodge or Didibakwe cattle post was the only place where you were able to see long and beautiful palm trees. Because of the heavy traffic from Villagers going to their cattle post and bringing back the tasty but bitter fruit, Nata Village now has plenty of Palm Trees to see. Nata Village was never big in the old days. The Village was only on the West side of Nata River, looking to the East was nothing but cattle posts and one playing field.
Miss Rancholo lived through all the changes that Nata Village has gone through. she remembers here days as a yougn girl walking to school with no shoes. Shoes and good clothing was only used on special occasions, for example Church,weddings, funerals, and school performances. Nata Village has 6000+ inhabitants, it's more a town than a village,growing rapidly. Now, Nata has two Primary Schools and one secondary, soon to have a Senior Secondary. Furthermore, Nata has two lodges, two Guest houses with one barclays small bank. Electricity can now reach all the houses and huts around the village. Miss Rancholo is so proud to have been born in Nata Village. Here retirement couldn't have come at a better time. She enjoys her time living in Nata Village and wouldn't change it for anything.
Miss Rancholo joins the trust with excitement and full of knowledge. During her years at Debswana Miss Rancholo was active in her community. She was a participant and a member of the sports committee. Also Miss Rancholo took part in helping her community with peer counselling and was Chairperson of the Women and Aids club. As a home grown mother she believes in making a difference in her community. Congratulations on your retirement Miss Rancholo and welcome to the Nata trust
