In Botswana, a wave of outrage has erupted on social media following the government’s appeal for public donations to reward the nation’s historic Olympic gold-medal-winning team.
On Monday, the government proposed a fund that would allow citizens to honor the athletes by “contributing rewards to our champions.”
Letsile Tebogo made history as the first African athlete to win the men’s 200m at the Olympics, securing Botswana’s first-ever gold medal.
However, the government’s request for public donations has dampened the celebrations for some, who argue that taxpayer money should be used to reward the Olympians.
“We are already paying tax, give our champions money from the government purse,” one Facebook user wrote in frustration. Another user, an unemployed electrical engineering graduate, expressed a desire to support Tebogo’s achievement but lamented their financial constraints.
Some critics have suggested that the government should lead by example, with one commenter proposing that cabinet members donate 25% of their salaries.
In contrast, other African nations have often rewarded their Olympic and Africa Cup of Nations champions with houses or substantial cash prizes.
Although Botswana boasts one of the highest income levels per capita in Africa, it also grapples with one of the world’s highest rates of youth unemployment, according to Afrobarometer. The country’s economic challenges have been exacerbated by a recent slump in diamond revenues, leading to government spending cuts, as reported by Bloomberg.
Despite the backlash, there have been voices in support of the Olympic reward fund. One enthusiastic commenter suggested opening the fund to contributions from across the continent, saying, “Open it to all Africans, I want to contribute from Kenya.”
Tebogo set an African record with a time of 19.46 seconds in the 200m and also secured a silver medal in the men’s 4x400m relay alongside his teammates.
On Tuesday, tens of thousands gathered at the National Stadium in Gaborone to welcome the Olympic team home after President Mokgweetsi Masisi declared a half-day holiday in their honor.
