13 Nov 2017

Youth of Hope Safe Haven Organisation (YOSHO) founder and president, Mr Boyson Mokone is embarking on a nation-wide tour from Gaborone to Francistown to sensitise people especially the youth on alcohol,drugs and substance abuse.

Welcoming Mr Mokone at Mochudi Kgotla recently, representative from  the Bakgatla royal house, Kgosi Modise Pilane applauded him for embarking on a noble mission, which he said would go a long way in bringing behavioural change amongst the youth.

Kgosi Pilane expressed disappointment at poor attendance of the youth especially that the event was meant to empower them to change their attitudes, adding that drugs, alcohol, substance abuse, peer pressure and infatuation were common among the youth nowadays.

Mr Mokone started his walk together with his team, Mr Peo Matlapeng and mr Modiri Setlhare on November 5 in Gaborone and expected to conclude the walk in Francistown on Wednesday.

For his part, Mr Mokone said he had realised that the youth had a misconception that by taking alcohol and drugs was a way of fitting well into the society, noting that as a ‘graduate’ of drug and alcohol abuse, he had first hand information of how drugs and alcohol could destroy ones life. “I was imprisoned at the age of 19, I had a bright future ahead of me, but because of drugs my life went burst,” he said.

Mr Mokone encouraged parents to have solid relationships with their children to enable them to detect wayward behavior earlier in their lives, adding that some parents were to blame because they think by giving their children expensive things and money was a way of showing love, instead children use such things to buy drugs and alcohol especially when they have more than they needed.

He said it was not the first time that he took part in a walk that aimed at improving behavioural change.

In 2015, he was involved on a campaign against road accidents  in Artesia.

Mr Mokone urged Bakgatla to support him and his crew to fulfill their mission while appealing to companies to sponsor their initiative.

Crime prevention coordinator sub-inspector Distance Thowane said Botswana Police supported the campaign as it would re-shape Botswana  to be a drug free nation.

He said the issue of moral decay was exacerbated by the fact that youth did not respect their parents who were supposed to be their mentors.

Thus, he urged youth to take part in community support groups.  BOPA