06 Mar 2016

The Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Mr Eric Molale has applauded the Rakhuna based public servants under the Village Extension Team (VET) for upholding the public service and going an extra mile in assisting the needy.

Mr Molale recognised the public servants at a handover ceremony of a house built by the  Rakhuna VET members and donated to Ms Kgakgamatso Maroane in Rakhuna on Saturday.

He said what the public servants have done is basically what is entrenched in the value system of this country which regards every community member as equally important and deserving better service.

He said such kind of public service of extending a helping hand to a needy member of the community they serve, is a shinning example of what public service is all about. By so doing, he said public servants have shown that they understand and are willing to drive government policies and programmes geared at improving the livelihoods of the communities they are employed to serve.

The minister said the public servants who built a two roomed house with kitchen and bathroom to a needy member of the community they serve in, is a sign that they are aware that human being co – exist and need each other for the nation to live in peace and tranquility.

“The building of a nation is highly dependent on how people co – exist and realise the need to assist especially those in dire need of life’s basics,” he said.

As Botswana celebrates its 50^th anniversary, Mr Molale said it was  important for all to also consider where “we come from as a nation, and that we have only reached this far because of the ability of people to co – exist.”

This, he said can also lead Botswana to continue living in peace and harmony without any challenges such as civil wars that other nations are facing.

Mr Molale also pledged to fence the beneficiary’s yard and to also ensure that she gets enrolled under the poverty eradication programme.

Giving  overview of the project, VET chairperson Ms Dineo Olesitse said it was upon realising that Ms Maroane’s children were not doing well at school while the other one had even dropped off school that they came to assess the situation at home.

Ms Olesitse said upon arrival at Ms Maroane’s home, they discovered that the conditions that she and her five children who are aged between 3 and 17 years were living under were not so desirable that they then took a decision to build a house for her.

She said they started digging dip from their pockets to raise finds and knocked on business owner’s doors until Dynamic Cash and Carry donated P120 000 while Lobatse Clay works gave 5 stacks of bricks.

She said she was hopeful that upon occupying the new house, the beneficiaries will live a dignified life to such an extent that her children’s performance at school will improve.

Good Hope Sub-district deputy council chairperson Mr Aron Mothibi also applauded the VET committee members saying, they have set an example for other public servants to heed ear to the country President’s call.

This, he said was a sign that the Rakhuna based public servants were willing to strengthen public service by putting into place government policies and programmes geared towards empowering communities they serve.

Ms Maroane thanked all those who made it possible for her to have adequate shelter adding that it will give her dignity and the need to continue living.

She promised the donors that  she will rise to the occasion, find something to do with her life to ensure that her children are fed and the house is taken good care of. Ends