Even as he lay motionless in his hospital bed, he kept on enquiring from his council colleagues on the progress of the implementation of the various components and strategies of the Human Resource Development Advisory Council (HRDAC) project that he had initiated.
Prior to hospitalization, he requested various update meetings, which were held at his house as he virtually got indisposed with illness.
That was Joseph Mathiba Lisindi, the former founding chairperson of the HRDAC who was at the helm of the council for the past 20 months before his untimely death.
Speaker after speaker at his burial in Goshwe Village in the Tututme sub-district of the Central District did not mince their words in articulating what a hard worker Lisindi, affectionately known as Joe, was.
Botswana Training Authority (BOTA) chief executive, Abel Modungwa, said it was sad that Lisindi had died before completing his mission at HRDAC and realizing the fruits of the hard work, commitment and dedication he had assigned himself to the project .
He said when it became apparent that the project could not be executed on an ad-hoc basis without full time staff to drive it, Lisindi was the first to dump his other activities to give his full attention to the project.
Lisindi was described as a hard worker who committed all his energy in whatever project he was doing in order to ensure its success. The same was said with regard to his farming activities at the cattle post and
horticulture projects in the Kgatleng District.
At 64, Joe defied his age and exuded a lot of energy in executing the duties he had assigned himself as well as those that he had been assigned to undertake.
He was hailed for his unrivalled, warmth, generosity, passion, hard work and humour coupled with warm laughter, love for life, kind spirit and ability to connect with people and stay connected.
A holder of a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, specializing in human resources development and management as well as a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Lisindi had humble beginnings having started off his work career as a patrol man and training instructor in the Botswana Police Mobile Unit before moving to BCL Mine in Selibe-Phikwe as a Personnel Officer before ascending to the level of┬á Assistant Personnel Superintendent at a time when most of the senior mine posts were held by white expatriates.
He then moved to IDM Botswana where he worked as both a lecturer and later a consultant as well as country director of the institute.
Lisindi also worked at Debswana Diamond Company where he was Group Human Resources Development Manager as well as Human Resources Manager. He was also a partner and managing director of LCM Management and Business Developing Consultants. He will be vividly remembered for chairing the Lisindi Commission, which was appointed by former president Festus Mogae, following a motion that sought to probe issues of maladministration at BOTEC.
His vast experience also caught the attention of President Ian Khama when he appointed him to chair the HRDAC in 2009 on the back of the need to develop a human resources structure that identified the human resources and skills needs of the country.
He leaves behind his wife, two sons, a daughter in law and three grand children.
His funeral was attended by, among others, former BDF commander, Matshwenyego Fischer, TEC chief executive, Dr Patrick Molotsi, Masiela
Trust Fund trustee, Tselangwe Matlhaku, and many other high ranking public and private companies’ officials.
May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.
