21 Sep 2014

On Friday (September 19), the residents of Damochujenaa village in the Mmadinare Constituency celebrated Vice President Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe’s tenure as their Member Parliament for decades. 

The occasion was held at the village kgotla where the whole village seemed to have descended to bid their leader farewell as he retires from public office end of October this year after serving them for three decades.

Dr Kedikilwe was showered with gifts including various types of livestock, and when welcoming the MP and his wife Ms Ruth Kedikilwe, as well as those who had graced the occasion, Kgosi Motsholetsi Kebalipile acknowledged him for the good work he had done to bring developments to the village.

The Kgosi explained that initially, Damochujenaa did not exist as it was just a cattle, but when Dr Kedikilwe became the area MP, he called upon the people living in the cattle posts in the area to live in one area; hence the Damochujenaa was established.

He said in the beginning, Damochujenna did not have a school, clinic, customary court, electricity, and water, among other developments. 

“Now Damochujenaa is a recognised village with electricity, a primary school, a clinic and other infrastructural developments, the traditional leader said, adding that the population has grown over the years and people from all over Botswana have also come to live in the village,” he said.

He went on to acknowledge the Vice President for being a hard worker and a visionary leader with a good heart and a lot of patience.

Kgosi Kebalepile said, like many Batswana country wide, who wish Dr Kedikilwe could extend his tenure as MP and Vice President, they also hoped that he would reconsider retiring from his public office.

He wished Dr Kedikilwe and his wife the best for the future and for him to enjoy life in his retirement. 

The village elders including Mr Ofeditse Morupisi, Mr Kebaetse Rantsebele, and Mrs Maitumelo Lebasa, among others, showered their outgoing MP with praises, narrating the history of Damochujenaa and how the village came about. 

For his part, Dr Kedikilwe thanked the residents for the support they gave him during his time, saying, without their patience, love, understanding, and support, he might not have achieved anything in the constituency and the country as a whole.

He said what has been achieved was due to the fact that people were united and worked together for a common purpose and that the farewell session was a sign of love for him.

Dr Kedikilwe went on to urge the residents to continue to work together and strive to bring developments to their village, adding that they should pave the way for future generations and work together with the village leadership, council and the incoming MP.

He said education should be taken seriously and parents should encourage their children to go to school and support them all the way. Further he urged parents to instill a sense of identity and pride among the youth and upcoming generations. He said they should teach them tradition and culture as well as the norms of society and good behaviour.

Councilor for Damochujenaa Ms Banabotlhe Mpeke also thanked Dr Kedikilwe for his good leadership and for helping bring developments to the village, and also the residents of Damochujenaa for embracing the idea of having a farewell party for the Vice President.

She called on the residents to stay united and work together to bring more developments in the village.

Meanwhile during the occasion, poets recited poems praising their MP and VP. Traditional Dance Troupes from Sedibe Primary School and Foley were some of the highlights of the occasion. 

Damochujenaa village choir and Itekeng Basadi Choir made up of village elders also entertained the guests. Also local church leaders sang church songs and also handed over a bible and other gifts to the outgoing VP.

Other dignitaries that graced the event included the Bobirwa Sub District Chairman Mr Ishmael Legwaila, BCL General Manager Mr Dan Mahupela and BCL top management, Member of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi Kgosi Phokontsi Seeletso and senior government officials. ENDS