27 Feb 2018

They are gone, yet they live in the memories of those who appreciate the sacrifice of the military members who fell while serving in the military.

That is the message carried through when the Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, Cabinet Ministers and members of the judiciary gathered at the three Dikgosi Monuments in the Central Business District on February 27, to honour and remember men and women who died in line of duty.

Other dignitaries that graced the annual event included captains of industries, heads of security organs and dikgosi. Families and friends of the deceased and the general public also braved the chilly morning drizzle to honour the fallen heroes.

President Khama, whose birthday also fell on the same day, February 27, was played a happy birthday song by members of the BDF band before laying a wreath in recognition of the soldiers who died in line of duty.

The day is aimed to remember the 15 BDF soldiers who were killed during the infamous Lesoma ambush near the then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The ambush took place on April 27, 1978 by the Rhodesian regime under the late Prime Minister, Ian Smith.

The annual event is meant to celebrate heroes and heroines’  sacrifices to the country and is held concurrently in Gaborone, Selibe-Phikwe, Thebephatshwa Air Base, Francistown and Lesoma, which was recently added to the list of venues.

Speaking at the event, BDF Commander, Lt Gen. Placid Segokgo said the event should not be preserved of the BDF, but be a national commemoration in which Batswana recognised the sanctity of all lives lost, either in military service, public service or otherwise.

 

 

Some of these people who were not military officers include the late Patrick Baatshwana, a senior locomotive driver with Botswana Railways, who lost his life in 1996 following a train accident that happened at Phakalane level crossing when his train collided with a haulage truck loaded with building materials.

Others include employees of Water Utilities Corporation, Merrs Kebolokile Mosiiwa, Goitsemang Moganetsi and Johanes Ramotite, who met their demise during a routine inspection of the Gaborone Dam in 2012.

Lt Gen. Segokgo said the trio too gave their lives to ensure their fellow citizens were provided with water from a structurally safe dam and that the water itself was potable.

Another one he mentioned was Constable Focus Isaiah of Sejelo Police Station in Kanye, who never returned home in 2015 following a shoot-out with armed robbers, who were trying to rob Roschville Cash Loan.

Last but not least to be mentioned was Mr Marcel Dedecker, a Belgian national and a top class parachutist, parachuting instructor and jumpmaster, who lost his life at Notwane Air Base in 1986 in a parachute accident while volunteering to help the then fledging BDF parachuting capacity.

Lt Gen. Segokgo explained further that some of the heroes and heroines were employed in jobs that resulted in illness, injuries, or even death due to unsafe working conditions.

“Some perished in the defence of our country while others met their demise while tilling the land to produce food for the nation. 

Others died while chasing after criminals for our safety.

Yet others may have lost their lives from infections they got from the patients under their care. 

Some died while guarding premises and many others lost their lives in various lines of duty,” he added.

The Commander said the fallen heroes and heroines formed an important part of the country’s history worth to be honoured and glorified.

He paid tribute and heartfelt appreciation to the families and friends of those who perished in the line of duty because they were the ones who endured the effects of such losses than anybody.

The commemoration was extended to other parts of the country where BDF had barracks and this time around the event was held in synchrony with Francistown, Thebephatshwa Air Base, Selibe-Phikwe, as well as Lesoma. ENDs