08 Dec 2015

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, yesterday (December 8) handed over Christmas food hampers to the leadership of security organs for their personnel who will be on duty during the festive season.     

Speaking during the handover ceremony at Sir Seretse Khama Barracks in Mogoditshane, President Khama, who is also the patron of Lady Khama Charity Trust (LKCT), said the hampers were ‘selflessly’ donated by the Choppies Group, which has become an annual contributor to the course.

President Khama paid tribute to the management of Choppies for their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), noting that the group has over the years endeavoured to assist different communities in various capacities. 

He said Choppies has so far built 38 houses while 12 were under construction under the Presidential Housing Appeal, adding that more were still to be built by the same company. 

President Khama also noted that Choppies contributed P8 million during last year’s Africa Youth Games that Botswana hosted and further contributed P1 million at the ongoing Botswana Games in Francistown.

President Khama challenged other companies to follow suit, adding that the same company has built a number of clinics across the country. He also thanked the chairperson of the Choppies Group, Mr Faruk Ismael on his personal capacity for having donated at least 60 Jojo water tanks to different people across the country. 

He said the food hampers would significantly benefit members of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), Botswana Police Service, and Botswana Prisons Services, who would be manning patrols and road blocks during the festive season to ensure that the nation was safe and there were no accidents along the roads. 

He said the same gesture has been extended to patients who would be admitted in hospitals as they would miss the opportunity to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s holidays with their families and friends. 

 He hoped the food hampers would be enjoyed by the beneficiaries. 

President Khama also used the platform to wish everyone who would be on duty, including the nation at large, a happy and prosperous New Year.  

For his part, the chief executive officer of the Choppies Group, Mr Ramachadran Ottapath said they were happy to be associated with LKCT on their CSR, noting that the food hampers have improved in terms of both quantity and variety. He pledged to continue with the same gesture in the future.      

Giving a vote of thanks, BDF Commander Lt Gen. Gaolathe Galebotswe said the food hampers would be given to those who would be engaged and pledged that no senior officer not on duty would even have a taste of them.

 

He thanked the Choppies Group and LKCT for the donation and handed them certificates of appreciation. Ends