10 Jun 2013

The Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe has said good fellowship among Batswana has helped to build the nation.

Speaking at an event to hand over a two-bedroomed house built by the Roman Catholic Church of Sefhophe and Selebi Phikwe for fellow church member, Ms Mpopi Gaseemelwe and her family on June 8, the Vice President said without good fellowship among Batswana and being compassionate and caring citizens, the country would not be where it is today.

He said peace, love and faith in God as well as volunteerism brought members of the church and other people together to build a house for a needy person. He said future generations should learn from the compassionate and caring gesture to help fellow citizens.

“I commend the Roman Catholic Church for constructing a house for their fellow church mate, Ms Gaseemelwe.

This house will restore her dignity, give her security and also shield her family from the rain and cold weather,” he said adding that the gesture needs to be emulated by other Batswana.

Dr Kedikilwe, who is also MP for Mmadinare, noted that President Lt Gen.Seretse Khama Ian Khama has encouraged Batswana to help build houses for the needy.

He said the President has taken the  lead in sheltering the needy and demonstrated it by setting up the Presidential Housing Appeal.

“Many Batswana and businesses around the country have taken heed to this call and through the initiative, so far roughly 600 houses have been constructed for destitute people around the country,” he said.

He said helping the needy has always been part of Setswana culture and should continue for generations to come.

Dr Kedikilwe advised Ms Gaseemelwe and her five children to take good care of the house they were being given.

For his part, the chairman of the Sefhophe Catholic Church branch, Mr Sylvester Ramsden informed the gathering that the initiative was the brainchild of Father Francis of the Selebi Phikwe Roman Catholic Church. 

Mr Ramsden said the priest requested the Sefhophe branch to identify a needy person and build a house for them. He said after identifying Ms Gaseemelwe and her family as the beneficiaries, members of the church volunteered to do the construction labour.

Ms Ontibile Jane, also a member of the church in Sefhophe said after identifying Ms Mpopi Gaseemelwe as the beneficiary, they invited the Vice President and Mrs Kedikilwe who are also members of the church in Sefhophe to see the state in which Ms Gaseemelwe and her children were living in.

She said the Kedikilwe family also donated P500 to purchase pit sand for construction of the house.

For his part, Mr Pius Cyriac of BC & LM who donated building materials for construction of the house said the project would not have been a success if it were not for the help of the Sefhophe community.

He pledged to help the church build another house for a needy person.

Mrs Kedikilwe also donated blankets and pots to the Gaseemelwe family. She also handed over food and money donated to the family by residents of Sefhophe and fellow church members.

The Village Development Committee also donated curtain rails for the house.

Ms Gaseemelwe thanked the Church for the good gesture saying she now feels as part of the Sefhophe community and her family’s dignity has been restored.

Initially, Ms Gaseemelwe and her five children lived in a one roomed shack made from metal scraps. ENDS