03 Mar 2015

Residents of Francistown in Monarch ward have been applauded for the good work they are doing to promote and teach the young ones about their cultures.

Speaking at the Francistown district culture day, the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Botlogile Tshireletso explained that culture should be preserved and also be respected by the older ones so that the coming generations can learn from them.

Tshireletso said through this ceremony, the National Vision 2016 pillar of a United and Proud Nation is being achieved as people have come together as one to make this day a success.
She further said if this spirit continues, Botswana will become an educated and proud nation as the children are able to learn about their norms and cultures.

Furthermore, she encouraged the residents to become one, as this event is annual and that she is happy because it will be held in different areas of Francistown and it will attract prominent people.
Tshireletso encouraged people not to be ashamed of their cultures as this will cause them to disappear.

She expressed concern about the high bogadi prices, saying that some people have turned it into a business transaction.
The assistant minister said the high prices of bogadi contributed to high numbers of people cohabiting nowadays, as in the past, people were able to marry as the prices were reasonable.

She however called on Batswana to benchmark on how other people promote their cultures.
In his welcoming remarks, Monarch Customary Court President Kgosi Gunny Moses said culture was very crucial in a child’s upbringing as it moulds them into future responsible citizens.

He said it is very important that children need to be taught their culture so that when they eventually re-join their communities, they are not left behind in terms of cultural activities.

Furthermore, Kgosi Moses disclosed that children spend a lot of time in schools and end up missing out on a lot of things.

He said they should be accorded time to learn and know about what is happening because ultimately they would be going back to their communities.

Kgosi Moses said in cultural activities, the children should be taken to masimo and dikgotla to learn how things are done.ENDS