08 Sep 2016

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama says he expects Botswana’s candidate for African Union Commission chairperson position, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi to win the position in next year’s elective meeting.

Speaking during a meeting at Mpaphazi kgotla in Serowe yesterday, President Khama told the gathering that Botswana and SADC region would ensure that Dr Venson-Moitoi sailed through.

“We expect that her campaign goes well,” said President Khama who informed Dr Venson-Moitoi’s electorates that their Member of Parliament had initially beat her competitors for the position in Kigali, Rwanda in July this year but failed to attain the required number of votes.

He however expressed  confidence that Dr Venson-Moitoi would clinch the post eventually. 

On other issues, President Khama called on Batswana to celebrate the country’s 50 years of independence with honour and patriotism.  

He also appealed to all Batswana across political and ethnic group divide to get together to celebrate the country’s 50 years of “uninterrupted independent rule.”

He said that attaining 50 years of independence humbled the then detractors who thought the country’s independence was worthless as the country was economically barren. 

President Khama challenged individual Batswana to celebrate their contributions towards the country’s success, however small those could be. 

At the same meeting, Dr Venson-Moitoi, who is also Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation requested for tarring and or paving of internal roads which would allow for more taxi routes and spinoffs  which could create employment for youth. Dr Venson-Moitoi also wanted to be furnished with progress on turning old Sekgoma Hospital premises into a 24 hour clinic. 

Responding to the MP’s requests, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Shenaaz El Halabi told Serowe South constituents that plans were underway to ensure that the 24 hour clinic at Old Sekgoma would be delivered to them. Currently, the ministry is working on the funds to be spent on the project.

She also informed residents that the country was experiencing shortage of nurses and doctors. She said that in Serowe area where there was one hospital, 10 clinics and 44 health posts, there were only 19 doctors to service the facilities. ENDS