12 Oct 2016

Chairperson of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, Kgosi Puso  has called on Batswana to uphold the principle of Botho.

In his opening remarks at the 6^th meeting of the 3^rd Ntlo Ya Dikgosi session, Kgosi Puso said botho could help market Botswana and make it a tourists attraction of repute.
Kgosi Puso stated that if all service providers could exercise the principle, the performance and productivity index could be raised, adding that botho can attract investors and groom well rounded citizens in schools and governance.

Kgosi Puso further mentioned that botho coupled with the principle of tlotlo should be encapsulated, noting that it was worrisome Batswana were slowly forgetting the concept of tlotlo.

He urged Dikgosi to continuously talk about botho, saying the unity and pride of Batswana would be in vanity if they could not enshrine tlotlo in all practices.

Kgosi Puso pointed out that there were worrisome emerging trends that indicated that Batswana were moving away from “Tlotlo ya Setswana”.

He cited the use of social media, saying it was becoming an eye sore and needed to be seriously reflected upon.
“Ka se ga rona loso le a ilelwa” he lashed out, saying social media users had gone the opposite direction as “motho a latolwa ba ga bone ba ise ba latolelwe”.

He urged the society to seriously reflect on it and see if they were still upholding tlotlo in the true sense of Motswana. However, he added that there was need to uphold social values which kept Batswana together as a peaceful nation.

Kgosi Puso also reiterated the issue of social ills affecting the society and urged communities to seriously work on their social fiber and social values. Batswana who were mainly shaped by Setswana good social values as opposed to riches and materialism should be jealously safeguarded, he said.

He also encouraged Batswana to take farming seriously to be able to contribute towards national food basket, noting that the Department of Meteorological Services had made projections of good rains this year.

He therefore urged Batswana not to fail the notion of self-sufficiency and self-reliance.

He stated that good yields would not be adequately realised if the fields had been abandoned, farms unfenced and cattle astray. He encouraged farmers to use proper farming methods to enjoy good yields.

He further encouraged those who would not plough to lease their fields so that they increase the national harvest.

Kgosi Puso also thanked government for recognising the contribution of Dikgosi in building Botswana, highlighting the recent independence celebrations, where Dikgosi who were in the legislative council were recognised.

On other issues, Ntlo Ya Dikgosi chairperson encouraged Batswana to familiarise themselves with Vision 2036 manual to align their creative and innovative ideas with what Botswana envisages. ENDS