Editor,I wish to put forth a comment basing on Sam Kebongo’s article, "Beggar mentality: You are what you think”, (The New Times, February 16).While not downplaying the real causes of economic hardships and mental challenges, begging in Africa or panhandling or public solicitation in the West, is for some people an occupation just like any other. While living in New York City, I befriended a man who I saw every morning at the same street corner in Mid-Manhattan. He told me he chose to beg because he could not stand the idea of taking orders from supervisors/bosses. And the irony of it is that whereas I was not able to ever afford to go away on a holiday somewhere in the Caribbean, he on the other hand, religiously took off in July to go on a holiday on a boat cruise around the Caribbean. As they say in America, "It is what it is”. Different strokes for different people.Karutasigwa Karutasigwa, Bukoba, Tanzania