11 Feb 2018

We give praise to the almighty for giving us a cheerful leader like you. You are the father to the fatherless, hope to the hopeless, a man who cares and a hard worker like your father.

These were strong words from a poem recited by a student Olebogeng Oagile that touched the hearts of multitudes who last week thronged Palapye kgotla to bid farewell to President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, who is leaving office on March 31.

Speakers at the farewell kgotla meeting took cue from the poet and spoke highly of the love and compassion portrayed by President Khama which bind him and the nation together.

They described him as a loving, kind, compassionate, disciplined and hardworking President who touched hearts of many by promoting love, unity, peace and stability amongst his people.

“If we follow the word of God we will conquer everything,” said President Khama when bidding farewell to residents of Palapye on February 9.

He urged the nation to adhere to the Constitution, parental guidance and the Bible, adding that Batswana were special people who liked peace and respected human rights, traits that earned the country accolades from the international community.

He urged the nation to pray for the country, urging parents to take care of their children.

He urged  youth to respect and take care of their parents.

President Khama said the country would continue upholding  capital punishment.

He said he would continue supporting this law though there were human rights groups like Ditshwanelo who advocated for a jail sentence for those found guilty of committing murder.

He said countries which did not subscribe to capital punishment had many murder incidents because there was no deterence.

President Khama further said Palapye was one of the areas that experienced growth during the period of his presidency, having experienced developments such as the North South Carrier2, Morupule B power station and Botswana Iinternational University of Science and Technology (BIUST).

He thanked Palapye residents for the gifts which included, among others,  over P250 000 worth of fencing material, two horses, P30 000 cheque, P80 000 worth of electric off road mountain bike and P25 000 cheque from BIUST.

He said Palapye residents gave him the gifts with love and he was also receiving them with love.

Member of Parliament for Palapye Mr Moiseraele Goya thanked President Khama for promoting good governance and democracy.

He said President Khama also served the country in the BDF and police services prior to being President.

He thanked him for the programmes he introduced with the aim to eradicate poverty.

He said Palapye had transformed into a town all thanks to President Khama's administration.

Kgosi Masego Olebile also spoke highly of President Khama's affection for his people which he likened to the late Sir Seretse Khama's love for his people.

Reminiscing about the past, he said the late Sir Seretse Khama paid a visit to Palapye in October 1979, where he called on the community to unite despite their different backgrounds.

He said the late Sir Seretse Khama wanted the community of Palapye to enjoy life the same way as Bangwato community in Serowe.

 He too thanked President Khama for promoting unity amongst Palapye community and for bringing developments to Palapye.

The elderly, the youth and people living with disability also had the opportunity to thank President Khama for making a difference in their lives. BOPA