29 Sep 2016

The independence eve festivities started off with Golden Jubilee Presidential Order of Honour Awards, 2016 by President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama in Gaborone earlier today (September 29).

The awards as stipulated in the Botswana Honours Act denote the quality and essence of people being recognised as being efficient, and devoted in their service to the Republic of Botswana. 

The first of the 75 recipients was the founding President Sir Seretse Khama for having worked tirelessly for the impoverished Botswana from humble beginnings to become an exemplary democracy in the world. His posthumous award was received by one of his son’s, Mr Anthony Khama.

Other recipients included the late first lady, Lady Ruth Khama, the second President Sir Ketumile Masire and the late Lady Olebile Masire, the third President Dr Festus Mogae and Barbara Mogae.

President Khama also honoured the eight members of the first cabinet among them, former late vice presidents, Messrs Lenyeletse Seretse, Peter Mmusi and Lt Gen. Mompati Merafhe. The former Vice President Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe was also honoured.

Members of the first Parliament that comprised 28 members and four specially elected members were also honoured, among them, some of the founding members of Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP), Messrs Edison Masisi, Moutlakgola Nwako, elected speaker of the Legislative Assembly and first speaker of the Botswana National Assembly, Dr Alfred Merriweather and the first Leader of Opposition for Bechuanaland People’s Party, Mr Phillip Matante. 

President Khama also honoured the first members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi among them, Kgosi Bathoen II, Kgosi Linchwe II and Kgosi Nealle Sechele.

Members of the legislative council among them the composer of the National Anthem, Mr Kgalemang Motsete were also honoured.

One of the recipients, also the first woman to join the National Assembly as specially elected Member of Parliament in 1974 and first woman to join the cabinet, Dr Gaositwe Chiepe said the occasion brought back a lot of memories of where Botswana came from as a nation fifty years ago.

“Seeing the pictures and reading the profiles of departed patriots in particular, reminds me of their quality character,” she said.

She said the people that were honoured had entered the public service for the sole purpose of serving their fellow Batswana and the country.

“During the 1960s there really was no money to be made from government; for the simple reason that government then had very little money to begin with,” she said.

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale said the awards were in recognition of men and women who were at the forefront of the country’s transition from British Protectorate to a sovereign and democratic republic.

He said the recipients were drawn from across the country with a diversity of backgrounds joining the public service from different races, as teachers, small businessmen, farmers and clergy as well as Dikgosi.

Mr Molale paid tribute to departed recipients most of whom were represented by their family members, adding that even though they might not be physically present, they and other members of the golden generation will always be alive in memories of many because they are the pioneers of Botswana.

“The golden generation truly displayed the courage of their conviction in their own and their fellow citizen’s potential. What one might ask, accounted for this 1966 spirit of self-confidence?  It is a question that can exercise the minds of sociologists and historians,” he said. ENDS