28 Dec 2017

Excitement and anticipation filled President Lt Gen. Dr Ian Khama Seretse Khama’s homestead in Makolojwane as children from Serowe and surrounding villages lined to see what Santa Claus had in store for them. 

There is no exciting time for them like Christmas because they get to receive hampers and catch a glimpse of the first citizen whom they refer to as “Ian.” “Re tsile go ja Christmas mo ga Ian,” some children were heard announcing. To them there is no formality, after all, it is the silly season. 

Children started gathering at President Khama’s residence and by the early hours of the morning the queue was already long. This year’s Christmas was special for them because it would be the last they celebrate with President Khama as the sitting President. However, he has assured Serowe residents that he would continue with the initiative even after leaving office. 

“Despite that I will be leaving my office next year, I shall continue with this. I was not just doing it because I was President, it’s something that the family has been doing for many years, I intend to continue,” stated President Khama. He also added that he would attempt to do it in other parts of the country as well. 

President Khama encouraged Batswana to stay true to who they were by ensuring that their culture was not eroded by external influences.

 “We have to ensure that our culture is not eroded by external influences, and if Batswana continue to remember who they are, that will be the biggest present now and going forward,” stated President Khama. 

He also urged Batswana to always keep God in their minds in their daily affairs. 

The sponsors of the initiative, Limkokwing University and Choppies Botswana, donated more than 10 000 hampers to children. On the other hand, Choppies donated 75 grocery hampers to Serowe North, South and West constituencies while Limkokwing University also donated food hampers to Serowe SOS children’s village as well as toys and hampers to Sekgoma Memorial Hospital children’s ward for the festive season. 

Limkokwing University’s director of communications and stakeholder relations, Ms Mercy Thebe said the university’s founder and president was of the view that corporate social responsibility was a mindset rather than a dedicated effort reserved for certain times and occasions.  

She said it was something he wished the university staff and students to weave into their daily lives hence an outreach programme called Heal the World Foundation, an initiative through which the university celebrated Christmas by sharing and giving, more especially to the underprivileged. Ends