11 Jul 2016

Social and community development chairperson Mr Simon Ramaphoi has lauded Botswana for being a beacon of democracy in the world and for upholding tranquillity as well as preserving peace. 

Mr Ramaphoi who is also a councillor for Gasita was speaking during Vision 2016’s Compassionate, Just and Caring Nation pillar celebration in Gasita on Friday where he said Botswana has been blessed to be one of the few countries in Africa not to have experienced political turmoil. 

He said when the pillars were set in August 1996 they were meant to close the gaps in society to meet the daily needs of Batswana. 

He said with the third pillar of a compassionate, just and caring nation the government developed objectives within the pillar including income distribution, poverty eradication, social safety and health.

He said they have not yet reached all the targets they had set for 2016 but had made immense progress in accomplishing them and hence there was an extended vision for the year 2036.

The government pledged to have equitable income distribution that ensures the inclusion of as many people as possible in its economic success, it also pledged to offer support and create opportunities to those who are poor and including all people to benefit from economic growth.

The government has since then accomplished providing the less fortunate with monthly groceries and toiletries. 

Children are transported from remote areas to school and the Presidential Housing Appeal continues to touch the lives of many unfortunate Batswana noting that to date more than 600 houses have been built and handed over to beneficiaries.

He said this financial year the government will build a house in his village of Gasita for a needy family. 

He said there is a problem of re-occurrence of drought but the government is coming up with initiatives such as ISPAAD to lessen hardships that could be faced by farmers during unfavourable weather conditions.

He said every Motswana has equal rights to health adding that in 1996 there were no clinics but only a handful of hospitals around the country but now most villages have clinics 20 years later. 

He said HIV/AIDS pandemic used to be a thorn in the flesh of many societies noting that the third President Dr Festus Mogae committed his time in fighting the scourge to stabilise the situation.

He said everyone is entitled to medication and that the main problem in Botswana is that people sell Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs to foreigners because patients get them for free but however he noted that these pills were extremely expensive and that it was a criminal offence to sell them.

He said it is critical to celebrate success but failures should not hinder people to move forward.

One of the beneficiaries of the Presidential Housing Appeal Ms Ontebogile Lebele hailed the programme for changing the lives of Batswana for the better. 

She appreciated land board’s efforts after building her a two bedroomed house in 2013. She called on Batswana to help the less fortunate and called for collaboration in moving Botswana forward.

Another beneficiary, Ms Kenanao Makutwana said before a house was built for her, she lived in pain with her grandchildren who were orphaned and she could not do anything to rescue the situation. 

She expressed gratitude to the good gesture and was thankful to God for the blessing he bestowed upon her and the family. ENDS