21 Nov 2016

Following a two-weeks intensive boot camp, Neo Barakaath, aged 24 from Qabo settlement in Ghanzi region has snatched the much coveted 2016/2017 Miss Remote Area Development Programme (RADP) title.

In a glittering competition against 14 other Miss RADP finalists at Botho University Hall on Saturday, Barakaath emerged victorious outshining her counterparts in her endeavour to become an agent of change in her community.

She endeared herself to the judges when she said she wants to help develop remote areas as they had challenges that were different from those in urban areas such as children who abandon their education, alcohol abuse amongst the youth and that there were higher levels of school dropouts due to teenage pregnancy.

She noted that mindset change remains a problem for her community, hence the need to deal with it.

Also, she said there was also a challenge of language barrier, which was an impediment to accessing government programmes and policies, which she also intends to tackle.  

She noted that she wanted to deal with these issues in order to bring her community closer to developments through encouraging the spirit of self-reliance.

The queen was awarded a cash prize of P10 000 and P50 000 to implement her project as well as jewellery by  Malaika worth P800.

Her first princess, Mompoloki Mochacho, aged 22 from Dzoroga settlement in Central district won herself P7 000 and P30 000 for her project.

The second princess was 22- year-old, Moreelo Sango of Khwai settlement in North West district who won P5 000 and P20 000 for her project.

Kesentse Baareng won P2 000 for being Miss RADP 2016/2017 Miss Personality, while those who made it to the top five were awarded solar lights by Electrical Distributors.

A consolation prize of P2 000 was given to the rest of the contestants.

Opening the third instalment of the beauty pageant, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Botlogile Tshireletso encouraged the beauty queens to become agents of  change that they want to see in the world.

She drilled them on maintaining positivity in whatever they do regardless of circumstances.

She noted that a positive attitude was a magnet for positive results hence the need to nature this attribute.

 “Our life is a reflection of our attitudes.
Positive attitudes create a chain of reaction of positive thoughts,” she said.

Tshireletso said the Miss RADP beauty pageant had attracted a total of 1 244 young ladies who had participated at different levels since its inception in 2013 adding that this was part of the RADP initiative implementation, which was ormally called Basarwa Development Plan introduced during the National Development Plan of 1970-1975 four years after Botswana attained its independence in 1966.

Further, the assistant minister revealed that the contestants came from the remote settlements in the seven RADP districts namely, Loologane in Kweneng, Khawa in Kgalagadi, Qabo in Ghanzi, Kwai in North West, D’kar in Ghanzi, Dzoroga and Khwee in Central, Kaudwane in Kweneng, Sekhutlhane and Thankane in Southern, Kgomodiatshaba in Kgatleng as well as Phuduhudu in Kgalagadi.
Indian High commissioner, Dr Ketan Shukla said the pageant was a great empowerment initiative by government.

The initiative, he said promoted inclusiveness of young women from different settlements in the mainstream society and also builds their confidence.

He noted that RADP was a commendable Botswana government initiative as it seeks to achieve a sustainable social and economic development of people in the remote areas through coordinated and integrated multi-sectorial approach with key focus on creating a people centered development approach.

Furthermore, he said beauty was not about only having a pretty face,. “It is about having a pretty mind, a caring heart and a pure soul.

It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry or fine clothes. Beauty should come from inside you. That beauty will never disappear,” he said. BOPA