27 Feb 2018

Office of the President was brightened with fun and laughter as children born on February 27 sung Happy Birthday to President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama in his last birthday as Head of State.

“Happy Birthday Mr President, We wish you well,” sang a crowd of pupils from different schools in Gaborone that share their birthday with the President.

Office of President Staff members including Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale also sang along and wished the President a happy birthday.

“I want to thank you all for the well wishes and the gifts, they are fully appreciated,” said President Khama.

Senior Private Secretary to the President, Brig. George Tlhalerwa said in an interview that while most head of state celebrate their birthdays lavishly, President Khama preferred his to be intimate, small, with some level of interaction with ordinary people.

“He is a very conservative person who chooses quite birthdays. 

He has a touch of shyness and he prefers small gatherings as compared to big crowds. Look how free he is around these children. 

It is only for the best to celebrate it this way because it will not seem like he has left out some people,” he said.

President Khama during his tenure never threw huge bashes to celebrate his birthday like other heads of state elsewhere. 

In 2016, he celebrated his birthday in a special way, visiting Maximum Prison in Gaborone to check on inmates and share his birthday cake with them.

Later on during the same year, he granted amnesty to 580 prisoners during the country’s 50^th anniversary celebrations, giving the prisoners a chance to enjoy independence with their families. ENDs