09 Jul 2017

Botswana Defence Force acting commander of Force Training and Establishment, Lieutenant Colonel Edison Molale has encouraged the Southern district military personnel to continue with the spirit of compassion by giving back to communities they live in.

He said during a hand over of school uniform and garden tools to Maiphitlhwane Primary School students in Pitsane on Friday courtesy of Lobatse, Pitsane and Rakhuna military bases.

Lt Col Molale said the spirit of giving back to the community portrayed by the military personnel must be encouraged in order to make differences in the communities.

He said the gifts were not because the military had bulk financial resources but was a result of the spirit of volunteerism.

 “As the BDF, we have tasked ourselves with the responsibility of choosing what we can do for the communities we live in, in all the districts which we have bases across the country,” he said.

He said the southern district was under Lobatse, Pitsane and Rakhuna bases hence they had vowed to also take part in developing the country by donating 35 complete boys and girls school uniform and garden tools.

“We started donating in the southern district in 2013 in Gathwane and in 2014 we donated to Metlojane and later Rakhuna and Phitshane Molopo primary schools,” he said.

He said that they wanted students to look the same despite differences of economic and social backgrounds.

He said expectation was that the students would take care of the uniforms and take education seriously since they were leaders of tomorrow.

 The school head, Ms Mercy Gakuba appreciated the getsure my the millitary personnel.

“It must be noted that the uniform which the BDF has donated was financed by the military personnel from their pockets. This is a noble gesture which shows compassion and is highly appreciated by the school,” she said.

Appreciating the donations on behalf of students, standard five pupil, Laphious Tlhowe said the gifts were a motivation towards improving their academic performances. ENDS