18 Sep 2014

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has donated 50 wheel chairs to the office for people living with disabilities.

The donation was received by the acting Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Shaw Kgathi on behalf of President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama on September 16.

Mr Kgathi thanked BURS for contributing towards the empowerment of people living with disabilities (PLWDs), saying the donation was a good gesture by an organisation known to be taking away from many people through collection of tax. He said he would ensure the wheel chairs were delivered to President Khama.

“So, today, BURS is giving back to the people who have contributed to the economy of this country. Therefore, as I have said the ideals of vision 2016 will be realised,” he added.

As early as in the 90s, he said government crafted the National Vision 2016 and one of the pillars within the Vision was the desire to create a caring and compassionate nation by 2016. In addition, Mr Kgathi said soon after President Khama took over office in 2008, he came up with his desire to restore dignity in the lives of many people who were disadvantaged.

He expressed gratitude that these two ideals, which are the desire to have a caring and compassionate nation and the desire to restore dignity were about to be realised, as the country moves towards 2016.

“The reason why I am saying so is because we have seen many people across the country, donating towards this good cause. We have received quite a good number of items, including the wheel chairs that I am to receive today,” he added

The demand for wheel chairs, Mr Kgathi said was growing and the numbers were increasing as well, because there were many PLWD who required the use of wheel chairs. In addition, he said the growing population of the elderly also required the use of wheel chairs. 

Therefore, he called upon all citizens to make a contribution in one way or the other.Currently, he said “we are working towards finalisation of the Policy on People Living with Disabilities. 

You will recall that we are having the 1996 Policy and we are reviewing it. We are on the final stage to send it to Cabinet, so that we can have it finally presented to parliament,” he said.

That on its own, he said was recognition on the part of government of its desire to do good for PLWD, adding that the reviewed Policy would be put to good use without much delay.

Presenting the donation to Mr Kgathi, BURS Acting commissioner general, Mr Kingsley Kgosidintsi, said in addition to its mandate of collecting tax on behalf of government, BURS was also committed to improving the quality of life of the local community and society at large.BURS, as an organisation, Mr Kgosidintsi said celebrated its 10^th anniversary during the month of August 2014.

Therefore, he said “it is because of being a compassionate and caring organisation that early this year when we were making plans and arrangements to celebrate the tenth anniversary, we did not forget our continuing commitment to improving the quality of life of the community and the society at large.”

“That is why as an organisation, we decided to donate 50 wheel chairs to be used by selected people throughout the country who are in need of such equipment,” he added.

The wheel chairs, Mr Kgosidintsi said BURS were donating as part of discharging its corporate social responsibility programme meant to give back to the community. This, he said was in line with the Vision 2016 pillar of Just and Caring Nation.
In her welcome address, the Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Ms Kebonye Moepeng said the occasion demonstrated the importance of corporate social responsibility which emphasised the need to remember those in need. ENDS