15 Aug 2016

A BOT50 committee in Mahalapye has  launched the 50 days count down to independence day by painting shops in the old mall .

Speaking at the launch, the B0T50 committee chairperson, Moatshe Senai said the committee intended to paint shops in the old mall to give it a new look.

Senai said they would also paint poles along the mall streets as well as putting benches under the shades  for people to rest on them  especially the elderly as they is shortage of benches.

He said the committee had partnered with the Mahalapye business community to give the Mahalapye old mall a face lift.

He said paiting the mall was one the projects that showed how special and different this year’s celebration was.

“We got a very positive response from business people in Mahalapye and this shows us that the celebration is not only for citizens as even foreign business people are actively taking part ’’ he said.

He encouraged everyone to take part in these projects as it is not only for the members of the committee but the public at large.

One of the businessmen, Mr Bharat Bhahmbhatt of Home Décor Hardware said he was honored to be a part of these preparations as it is not only his duty to the Mahalapye community but to the nation of Botswana.

He said for the past 18 years he has enjoyed peace and safety in Botswana thus he saw it fitting to take part in the preparations for the golden jubilee celebrations 

For his part, Kgosi Tshipe Tshipe of Mahalapye said as Batswana celebrate 50 years of independence they should remember historical sites in their village and renovate them so they can carry them into the future.

Kgosi Tshipe said in Mahalapye the old mall is one of those places that events took place in it as it attracted many people.

He cited that it is in the old mall that the first meeting for the ruling Botswana Democratic Party was held by first president Sir Seretse Khama under a morula tree and it was the only mall in Botswana that had a cinema that time.

He urged the youth of Mahalapye to take part in these preparations that will carry on until September 24. ENDS