07 Dec 2015

A Botswana Defence Force (BDF) senior officer has said the annual honour and awards to military staff play an important role in motivating members by building a spirit of excellence within the organisation. 

Giving a key note address at the 8^th BDF honours and awards ceremony held at Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB) in Mogoditshane last Friday (December 4), Maj. Gen. Seleka Phatshwane said honours and awards were meant to appreciate the work that individuals and groups contributed towards the organisation’s improvement.

Maj. Gen. Phatshwane said recognising and rewarding hard work had always been on top of the BDF commander priorities

“It is through initiative such as this one that the BDF’s aspirations to be a prompt and decisive force can be realised,” he said.

Above all, he said, it was envisaged that BDF’s strategic intent to become a professional defence force with national trust and international repute cannot be attained if the management failed to appreciate those who made the nation proud of its defence force.  Maj. Gen. Phatshwane further said this year’s nominees had given their best and made the military proud by tackling some projects that others could not do. 

He emphasised that without their drive and energy, the BDF would not have managed to fulfil its targets in time. 

Thus, he said BDF should appreciate the role played by such employees and continue to encourage them to unleash their best.

“Honours and awards make us pause, reflect and strategise on how we do our daily work and more importantly recognise outstanding performance. We are not here only to recognise recipients, but to encourage every other employee to go an extra mile in the day to day execution of our duties,” Maj. Gen. Phatshwane said.Nonetheless, he said those who did not receive awards should not despair, saying “for they still remain much appreciated and should remember that it is the sum of bricks that builds a house not one brick alone.”     

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen, Phatshwane thanked Mascom Wireless, Vivo Energy and Letshego Holdings for sponsoring this year’s honours and awards.“It is through their unwavering support that they have made the event possible. He therefore said their continued contribution to the BDF through generous sponsorship does not go unnoticed.

 

For his part, the honours and awards organising committee chairperson, Col. Sidney Molomo said awards were extended to both military and civilian BDF personnel to encourage good behaviour and also served as catalyst to achieving the organisational goals. Ends