29 May 2017

Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi has commended the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) for contributing to national development as evidenced by the clinic the church opened at Mmopane Block One.

The P10-million health facility, named Mahlaku Lekganyane, after the late grandmother to ZCC leader, Bishop Dr Barnabas Lekganyane, was officially opened on May 28.

Giving a keynote address at the event, Mr Masisi said government was grateful for the church’s support, which Botswana has enjoyed for many years.

“The government of Botswana likes peace, it also adheres to good principles and has reputation for good governance,” Mr Masisi said, urging ZCC to continue contributing to development of the country.

In a brief speech, Bishop Dr Lekganyane, who received a rousing round of applause by multitudes who thronged the occasion, explained that they named the facility after his grandmother because she was a kind and loving person, who preached discipline and love for fellow human beings.

Giving an overview of the project, managing director of the ZCC Kganya Group in Botswana, Mr Joseph Mosotho explained that the project was conceptualised after a meeting in 2014 between former Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe and Bishop Dr Lekganyane, who was here on an official trip.

According to Mr Mosotho, Dr Kedikilwe briefed the Bishop about challenges facing the country at the time and Bishop Dr Lekganyane offered to assist by building a clinic to help improve health and wellness services.

He said after consultations with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, construction of the clinic commenced in September 2015 and was completed nine months later.

For his part, Dr Kedikilwe expressed delight at the successful completion of the project, explaining that the issues he discussed with Bishop Dr Lekganyane three years ago included matters on health, education, youth and people living with disabilities.

“He expressed interest in assisting in matters concerning health and decided to build a clinic in Mmopane,” Dr Kedikilwe said, advising members of the community to also contribute to their own well-being by taking good care of their health.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Ms Dorcas Makgato said the gesture by ZCC was a good example of public private partnership and came at an opportune time when government was engaged in coming up with strategies aimed at improving health care She said the clinic would alleviate pressure from other health facilities in its proximity.

The clinic has 21 rooms including consultation, injection, counselling, dispensary, observation, pharmacy, laundry rooms and child welfare facility.

She further pointed out that ZCC has shown its relevance to the nation by contributing to health and wellness of the society through construction of the clinic and teaching its members not to drink alcohol, smoke or engage in any untoward behaviours.

“For so many years, ZCC contributed immensely to the social arena, especially the curbing of social ills and moral decay. We applaud ZCC for this because if it wasn’t of the church Godly teachings, may be majority of its members could be involved  in a lot of social ills,” she said.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Simon Manthe of Mmopane said his people should count themselves blessed for them to be chosen among many for the church to built the clinic in their village.

The high profile ceremony was attended by government officials, among them Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo and Specially Elected Member of Parliament, Mr Mephato Reatile. Multitudes of church members also thronged the occasion. ENDS