19 Jun 2016

Botswana  joined other African countries in celebrating the day for the African Child. The commemorations were organised by Botswana National Youth Council.

Speaking at the occasion in Gaborone on June 16, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mr Dikgang Makgalemele said as members of the African Union (AU) and signatories to the convention, the Botswana government continued to uphold this resolution through commitment to the celebration of this historic day.

He said commemoration of Day of the African Child provided yet another opportunity for reflection as Botswana and as Africa into what had been achieved and legacies built for the children.

Mr Makgalemele noted that the day of the African Child remained up to today, a clarion call to all, to give more attention to the well-being of Botswana youth and children.

“In that regard, our Ministry of Youth Sport and Culture continues to provide leadership and policy development for betterment of our youth through numerous programmes currently available,” he stated.

He also highlighted that the BNYC which is a platform for youth voice and participation played a complimentary role in that regard and commended it for shinning the spotlight on youth issues and in joining the rest of the youth movements across Africa in commemorating this historic day.

Mr Makgalemele said the theme ‘conflicts and crisis in Africa, lessons for Botswana and lessons from Botswana’ is relevant since indeed there were lessons to be learnt from the past as a nation and there were some lessons which Botswana could share with the rest of Africa.

“As a country we are blessed to have such a young population. This means our chance at innovation, at new developments, new ideas and our capacity for creativity and indeed our future prosperity is guaranteed,” he said. 

Lastly, Mr Makgalemele cautioned young people against some of the developing bad vices brought about by dynamic platforms, “We now have to contend with the growth of social media and its related abuse, money laundering, human trafficking and other cybercrimes”.

He told youth that as leaders of tomorrow they should be agents of change to nation building and strive to create a better Botswana.

In his remarks, BNYC chairperson Mr Kitso Masi said the council discouraged all bad practices against children at all levels and rather protect their rights especially for the girl child who were challenged.

Ms Tshepo Mosweu who is a lawyer by profession was amongst the panelists who educated the gathered youth about Children’s Act and advised them to read it on their own.

She advised the youth to know and understand their rights as well as their responsibilities, adding that if they had adequate knowledge about their rights it would protect them against any form of abuse.

Celebration of Day of the African Child was beefed up by performances of local artistes including Vee, Kast and Ngwao Letshwao drama group which passed on the message on child abuse. ENDS