07 Dec 2015

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama on Friday (December 4) reignited the Christmas spirit by lighting the annual christmas tree at RailPark Shopping Mall. 

Speaking at the lighting ceremony, Limkokwing regional director for corporate and media relations for Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland, Ms Mercy Thebe said Christmas holidays are a period when most of the communities make time to be with their families to enjoy the festive season. 

Ms Thebe said as Limkokwing they found it necessary to organise such an event in order to promote, uplift and embrace the Christmas spirit in Botswana and also extend a helping hand to the under privileged members of the community through their Heal the World Foundation.

She said last year around the same period, they celebrated the official launching and lighting of the Christmas tree where donations of over P50 000 were given to Poloka Pre-School and SOS children’s Village.

She said social corporate responsibility must be a mindset rather than a dedicated effort reserved for certain times and occasions.

“The specifics of this year’s humongous Christmas tree are that it is 12 metres high, six metres wide and instead of the 16 000 lights that the previous trees had, this one boasts of 20 000 lights with additional 1000 ribbons making it the biggest Christmas tree in Botswana,” she said, adding it took over 1 000 students and staff to put up the tree.

Welcoming all who throng the RailPark Mall to witness the lighting ceremony, Limkokwing University associate director for international development, Mr Philisani Amos said the objectives of the initiative were tuned to be in line with the President’s roadmap of the 5Ds being Development, Discipline, Democracy, Delivery and Dignity. He said everybody should be concerned about the wellbeing of others hence giving back to the community is paramount and bring back a smile to those who are beginning to lose hope.

He said it is a sign of being compassionate as envisaged in one of the Vision 2016 pillars of A Compassionate, Just and Caring Nation.

“We celebrate Christmas bearing in mind that faith makes all things possible, hope make all things work and love make all things meaningful,” he said.

Beneficiary of the Limkokwing University Target 20 000 Youth Initiative, Ms Tshepho Matlho said it is through the President and the Ministry of Education and Skills Development to design the future of young people who are leaders of tomorrow.

She said as beneficiaries of Target 20 000, they will maintain their commitment and promised to make their best in making the initiative a success.

She said the President’s efforts to encourage the youth of this country through various programmes cannot go unnoticed and as such they thanked for entrusting the youth of this country, adding that youth of this country are ready and geared to take up every initiative available to them. Ends