22 Nov 2015

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama has urged new Botswana Defence Force (BDF) officer cadets to always remember values and standards of the military and lead by example.   

Speaking during the commissioning of  officers at BDF barracks in Mogoditshane on Friday (November 20), President Khama said traditional values and standards of the military were founded on virtues of integrity, honour, duty, selflessness and loyalty not only to the BDF but to the country. 

He said soldiers deserved the best leadership they could provide at all times.  “In return, they will respect you, forgive you for your inevitable mistakes and follow you wherever you lead them,” he said. 

President Khama also encouraged them to take pride and honour in their duties and discharge them to the best of their abilities.  He said everything was possible if they remained focused. 

“You will always be required by your seniors and subordinates to lead by example,” he said.  President Khama reminded them that their duties would however not be easy. 

“You will be exposed to hardship, sometimes danger, fatigue and many challenges.  You will need the strength of will and confidence to take the right path and the right path may not necessarily be an easy one,” he said. 

Further he said the BDF must succeed in whatever endeavour they undertook and must win adding mediocrity was unacceptable.  President Khama called on the new cadets to guard against issues that would lead to the moral decadence of the BDF. 

Apart from your traditional role of defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Botswana, you will be called upon to aid civil authorities to curb crime and protect wildlife,” he said.  President Khama said Botswana’s economy relied on diamonds, beef and tourism adding incidents continued to show that the latter industry was under threat from poaching activities. 

“You will from time to time be called for duty to curb such incidents in our operational areas and to secure our borders,” he said.  The president also urged the new cadets to remain focused as the war against HIV/AIDS was far from over. 

“Government has in this regard undertaken comprehensive programmes and effort to combat this scourge,” he said.  President Khama commended the Officer Cadet Course Class 38 for their generosity that they extended to the village of Paje where they donated hampers and a Fun Park to Paje Primary School. 

Meanwhilee the BDF has donated P30 000 to Matsha College Accident Fund. Ends