30 Aug 2016

Duduetsang Modudwana (21) from Tshokwe won the Bobirwa Sub-district- Miss Rural Area Development Programme (RADP) pageant in Mmadinare on Saturday.

Modudwana beat 11 other contestants to be crowned Miss RADP of the Bobirwa region and won a P3 000 voucher.

The first princess position was scooped by 19-year-old Kenna Bathuseng from Robelela who won a P2 000 voucher while the second princess spotwent to Tshegofatso Gabooketswe (21) from Damochojenaa who took home a P1 000 voucher.

The beauty from Tshokwe displayed poise and brains during the competition, which made her the fairest above all contestants from villages in the Bobirwa Sub District which include Damochojenaa, Tshokwe, Robelela and Tobane.

Speaking during the pageant, the Bobirwa Sub-district senior assistant council secretary, Gomolemo Moepeng said the RADP pageant which is a government initiative is a programme aimed at unearthing natural beauty and talent from remote areas and bringing young women from remote area communities into the   main stream economic development.

She also noted that the pageantry encourages behavioural change among people living remote areas especially young women.

When giving a key note address at the event, the mayor of Selebi Phikwe, Amogelang Mojuta, indicated that President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s government introduced such programmes to encourage youth living in remote areas to empower themselves and not feel marginalised.

He said such programmes gave youth in remote areas a chance to unearth their talent.
When giving a word of motivation, Miss Botswana 2015 Seneo Mabengano, said women should have self respect and value themselves.

She told contestants t to discover their purpose as beauty queens in their communities and make a visible contribution towards the development of Botswana.

In an interview, Modudwana, who would represent Bobirwa Sub-district at the finals said she was excited about her victory.

She also applauded government for introducing the RADP beauty pageants and other empowerment programmes for people living in remote areas, saying such initiatives could  close the gap between youth living in urban and rural areas.

“Youth can empower themselves using these programmes to pursue their dreams,” she said. ENDS