07 Mar 2016

Celebrations in which all citizens participate serve both to foster unity and pass on key lessons to younger generations.

 Speaking at an event held to welcome the roving torch in Mbalambi on Sunday March 6, the ward councillor Mr Israel Samu implored Batswana to strive to understand the significance of national celebrations and to desist from taking them for granted.

Cllr Samu observed that such celebrations, especially when held in an atmosphere of peace, provide a critical lesson to children on the importance of peaceful co-existence.

However, the councillor expressed concern over the reluctance by men to fully participate in such events.

He noted that in the three villages that make up his ward, women had been at the forefront of ensuring the success of the roving torch celebrations.

He thus urged district leaders to come up with a solution to enhance male participation in national celebrations and other events of national significance.

At the same event, a youth Mr Gakenaope Mugambari said though the youth of Mbalambi want to see Botswana more developed, they understand that they have an important role to play.

Mr Mugambari also appealed to his peers to desist from using social media in a destructive manner.

He said they ought to know that social media is a powerful tool that when used properly can help enhance the pace of developments.

Giving an overview of Mbalambi earlier, a resident Mr Samuel Makhalanga told the audience of the severe lack of water that the village experienced during the pre-independence years.

The situation, he said, was so bad that it forced some residents to relocate to other places.

Mr Makhalanga pointed out that at the time, residents fetched water from Tati River between Masunga and Mulambakwena.

He said years, some whites from the then Rhodesia settled in nearby farms and sunk boreholes which then helped to ease the water woes.

He also narrated how initially they were under the Makaleng chieftainship.

It was only years later in 1962 that a local was appointed for the village. Ends