04 Feb 2018

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has bid farewell to Mmadinare constituency residents on February 2 as his term comes to an end at the end of March.

Bidding them farewell at Mmadinare, President Khama said he would take care of gifts and presents that included livestock and artifacts given to him by the constituents.

President Khama stated that retiring from office did not mean that he would cease from continuing with the projects he had been doing to help the nation but would continue with his mission to help the elderly and destitutes.

He said as a champion of Vision 2036, he would visit the length and breadth of the country to educate the nation about its pillars.

President Khama also spoke highly about former Vice President,  Mr Ponatshego Kedikilwe who was also MP of Mmadinare and described him as a knowledgeable person who assisted him during his presidency.

“I was able to achieve many things during my presidency because I was surrounded by people with knowledge who assisted me to carry out my duties,” he stated.

Further to that, President Khama also told residents that they must also consider themselves lucky for having another legislator in the name of Mr Kefentse Mzwinila who was also passionate about serving the constituents.

During his tenure as President of the country, he added that he was happy to see culture and arts growing and getting the recognition it deserved.

Going forward, President Khama appealed to Batswana to always extend their helping hand and assist those who required assistance in various forms.

He said Botswana had taken the democratic route, and as such was also free to foster relations with other countries and also without fear or favour condemned countries with bad record of human rights globally.

For his part, Dr Kedikilwe, speaking on behalf of elders commended President Khama for the respect of the constitution by stepping down as the constitution demanded.

Dr Kedikilwe said during President Khama’s rule, there were many forms of assistance directed to elderly, destitute and young persons to better their lives.

He also commended him for being a steadfast person who had courage of conviction who looked at fundamental principles irrespective of the pressures of the world by inviting the spiritual leader Dalai Lama into the country to speak to the people about the spirit of Botho.

Dr Kedikilwe also talked of the Chobe/Zambezi water transfer scheme, ISPAAD, and many others as some of the projects that the President’s administration had shown commitment to.

Dr Kedikilwe added the President Khama would chair the Vision 2036 which Batswana had to embrace and support as it was the agenda for the nation.

During welcome remarks, Kgosi Maureen Mphoeng said the constituents were thankful of the Dikgatlhong and Letsibogo dams which were a source of water as well as a source for employment and food as some people utilised them for fishing projects.

Kgosi Mphoeng also commended him for the Presidential Housing Appeal that had brought decent housing to some people as well as the construction of the Mmadinare Senior Secondary School.

Youth representative, Mr Oabona Mojorosi commended President Khama for observing the rule of law and the democratic principles he enshrined during his tenure.

He however called for the resuscitation of the Selebi Phikwe town as many people relied on the BCL for employment.

Lt Colonel Onneetse Maswabi speaking on behalf of retired soldiers, described him as a workaholic saying that the Botswana Defence Force was highly recognised in the peacekeeping missions, and the handling of the Sedudu Island issue that ended amicably.

Lt Colonel Maswabi added that when President Khama was the commander of BDF, he established welfares that assisted many soldiers to have homes, the mission he even extended to citizens when he was the Head of State.

For his part, Mr Mzwinila, also Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, said he met President Khama in 1995 as an officer cadet when he joined BDF.

He said they had a cordial working relationship until he appointed him the assistant minister.

Mr Mzwinila said during his tenure as President, national teams in various codes began performing better and arts and culture had grown.

He said his constituency was thankful of projects in the offing such as the staff houses for the police, upgrading of the hospital and the police station.

Constituents gave President Khama 45 herds of cattle, 32 goats, 18 sheep, 50 bags of cement, P50 000, while MP Mzwinila gave him a MK225 type of a gun.

President Khama was accompanied by Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso. ENDS