People in Botswana have reacted with outrage on social media after the government asked citizens to donate money to reward the country's historic gold-medal-winning Olympic team.
The fund would be a way for citizens to honour the athletes by "contributing rewards to our champions", said the government in a statement on Monday.
Letsile Tebogo brought glory to Botswana after he became the first African athlete to win the men's 200m at the Olympics, bringing home the country's first-ever gold medal.
But the government's request for donations has halted celebrations for some, who question why their taxes aren't being used to reward the Olympians.
"We are already paying tax, give our champions [sic] money from the government purse," raged one user on Facebook.
The Botswana government did not respond to the BBC's request for comment and it is unclear if they are also contributing to the reward pot.
"I would love to donate in support of the boy’s historic achievement, but unfortunately, I’m currently an unemployed electrical engineering graduate with a bachelor’s degree," one user said.
Another suggested that the cabinet lead by example and donate 25% of their salaries.
Other countries in Africa have often rewarded the winners of Olympic gold medals, or the Africa Cup of Nations, with houses or lump sums of cash.
Botswana has one of the highest levels of income per head in Africa, but also one of the world's highest rates of youth unemployment, according to Afrobarometer.
Although Botswana is one of the world's largest producers of diamonds, the southern African country has recently experienced a slump in diamond revenues, forcing the government to cut spending, according to Bloomberg.
Despite the objection to the fund, there have been some voices of support for the Olympic reward pot.
One person enthusiastically suggested the fund be opened for anyone across the continent to send money.
"Open it to all Africans, I want to contribute from Kenya," said one voice of support.
Tebego set an African record 19.46 seconds in the 200m, and also won a silver medal in the men's 4x400m relay alongside his teammates.
On Tuesday, tens of thousands of people gathered in the National Stadium in the capital, Gaborone, to welcome the Olympic team home after President Mokgweetsi Masisi declared it a half-day holiday.
Latest Stories
-
Photos from NDC’s ‘Enough is Enough’ demo against EC
17 mins -
NDC demonstration: Police clash with protestors in Kumasi
25 mins -
Renowned Ghanaian technology entrepreneur, Herman Chinery-Hesse dead
37 mins -
CODEO trains and deploys 45 election observers
41 mins -
GAWU urges government action to combat galamsey crisis in agriculture
45 mins -
I still believe in funeral tourism – Okraku-Mantey
1 hour -
GPL: Dreams FC adopts Tema New Town Park as temporary home venue following Accra Stadium closure
1 hour -
Joy Prime’s 4Kids Paradise campaigns for peace ahead of December election
2 hours -
Women in Worship convener explains why event couldn’t come off in 2023
2 hours -
GFA reports Betway, others to Gaming Commission
2 hours -
DJ Kaxtro’s top 10 rappers list is a joke: Okyeame Kwame is the best rapper alive
3 hours -
NDC Demo: Nationwide protest against EC kicks off
3 hours -
We may trigger recall of parliament to compel EC to audit register – Ato Forson
3 hours -
Hearts of Oak, Dreams FC, and Accra Lions seek new GPL home venues
3 hours -
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs arrested in New York, his attorney tells CNN
3 hours