23 Apr 2017

The Commander of Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Lt Gen. Placid Segokgo says the success of the BDF as with the rest of the country benefitted from a mature early leadership with the highest levels of integrity.
Speaking during BDF Day Ruby Jubilee Mess Night attended by among other President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama on Saturday at SSKB, Lt Gen. Segokgo said this integrity was underpinned by the strict adherence to the principle of subservience to civilian control and an apolitical military in keeping with the country’s chosen multi-party democracy.
He noted that the tireless efforts of “our” founding fathers, some of whom are deceased such as the founding defence force Commander Lt Gen. Mompati Merafhe are what laid the foundation for what is now one of the best forces in the continent.
The army chief noted that until he retired in 1989, Lt Gen. Merafhe steered the young defence force from its formation through the dark days of the Lesoma ambush of 1978 in which 15 members of the BDF perished in a single event, at the hands of the Rhodesian forces.
Notably, Lt Gen. Segokgo said it was pleasing to celebrate this day in the presence of President Khama who also served as founding deputy commander and ultimately rising to the helm. Above all, he said Lt Gen. Merafhe and Lt Gen. Khama would not have achieved this feat on their own, adding that all of the pioneers, who transitioned from Police Mobile Unit (PMU) and formed the mainstay of the BDF, are but some of our brave, astute leaders, without whom the history of the BDF’s development would be complete.        
Nonetheless, he acknowledged the rest of former BDF commanders and the entire BDF leadership from officer and non-commissioned officer corps spanning four decades, who ensured that the vision and legacy of this defence force is kept alive and remains true to its course. Some of these Lt Generals include Matshwenyego Fisher, Tebogo Masire and Gaolatlhe Galebotswe. BOPA