03 Oct 2017

The mayor for Francistown, Ms Sylvia Muzila says it is important to remember and treasure Botswana’s Independence Day as it marks growth as a nation.

Officiating during the Independence Day celebration in Francistown on Saturday, Ms Muzila said the nation needed to remember those who helped build Botswana into what it was today adding that the country had achieved a lot in different districts and towns.

“Today is a day to remember and celebrate our former leaders and the sacrifices they made for this country. This country has experienced a lot of good especially the freedom that rains in the country,” she said
Among the many achievements, Ms Muzila said  was the country’s education system that had grown immensely and now competed with the entire world.

“We need to celebrate not only the 51 years of independence but also the 120 years Francistown city has been in existence. Francistown has grown tremendously though the biggest challenge we face as a city is unemployment. Government places unemployment high on the agenda, therefore achieving employment for everyone is a priority,” she said

Member of Parliament for Francistown South, Mr Buti Billy decried the decline in turn out for  independence celebration in the city.Mr Billy observed that back in the days children were taught the importance of Independence Day something which was no longer happening. He also blamed the decline on poor preparations and budgeting.

“The message should be passed on to our children as they are our future leaders and should know where we come from and where we are going as a nation,” he said.
He said attaining independence was an important milestone that needed to be celebrated and it was crucial for Batswana to preserve the practice .

Mr Billy further advised that there should always be consultations with the community in all areas that affected them. He added that democracy should start at family level before it could be achieved at national level.

Giving a brief of the city’s history, Kgosi Paul Motshwane of Gerald location explained that in the olden days the only jobs Batswana were allowed to do were that of police officers, lower primary school teachers or jail guards. He added that the first tarred road in the city of Francistown was constructed in 1966, in preparation for Queen Elizabeth’s visit. ENDS