31 Mar 2015

Involvement in sporting activities plays a critical role in personal and professional development.

The deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo, said this when officially opening the first Local Authorities and Health Intersports Association (LAHISA) games in Lobatse on March 28.

Kaboeamodimo said it was important for the officers to be involved in sporting activities as it had shown that a physically active person came out as an active and forever happy person.

Therefore people  involved in sporting activities were physically active and energetic even in their work places. He said often than not the work place was referred to as a place of stress, but it was high time the work place became an enjoyable place.

Kaboeamodimo commended the LAHISA members for the good course they had embarked on of annual sports games which ensures a balance between work and entertainment for employees.

He said through the annual LAHISA games, employees are guaranteed of creating a friendly environment among themselves which ultimately brings unity as a united work force comes as a happy workforce.

He said research had proven that working under bossy supervisors, financial benefits are not better ways of ensuring a happy workforce, but rather, work that is coupled with fun brings better results.

He pledged government support in these games as they prepare to participate in the international games which will be held in Lesotho in September.

For his part, LAHISA President  Kagiso Keitumetse said the LAHISA games are meant to close the gap between supervisors and junior officers as all employees, regardless of their positions, take part in these games.

It is in this regard, that junior officers would feel comfortable among their supervisors and would feel free to express themselves even in a professional environment, as the rapport would have been created at the playing field.

Kagiso said the Association also looks into these games which are held annually as taking Botswana forward and for the country to have a healty workforce by 2016.

Southern Inter- Municipal Sports Association (SAIMSA) President, David Sono said the international mother body has for a long time been concerned that Botswana was not their affiliate and are happy that all the logistics towards its registration has been complete.

He said through LAHISA, Botswana finally became the affiliate and implored government to support this initiative.

He encouraged the participants to have a competitive spirit in these games, though the games intentions are not all about winning, but rather participation and creating unity among employees.

Giving a word of encouragement Lobatse Town Clerk Ms Gabatlotlane Sekwakwa said the ministries represented in LAHISA, are the backbone and integral part of the public service as they are found in the remotest areas of Botswana.

The games, therefore, she said come at the right time for these employees to find a break in the entire time they spend in the workplace, to come together, interact and have fun through sports. This she said was a proper way of making employees compete among themselves, brand themselves.

At the end of it all, these games she said encourage employees to create an enjoyable working environment. The games are held under the theme, “Promoting personal health and wellness through sports. ENDS