11 Mar 2018

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama says even though he is stepping down, he will still be willing to help in various activities, especially those involving philanthropic work.

President Khama said this in Jwaneng last week while bidding farewell to residents of Jwaneng/Mabutsane constituency.

He said his visits to different areas across the country had borne fruit because they helped his government to come up with various programmes needed by the people. He said as President of Botswana, he was everybody’s leader irrespective of their political affiliation or geographical location.

He also said when he assumed office in 2008, his aim was to revive the agricultural sector in order to improve food security in the country and reduce imports. He said government made a decision to give farmers fertilisers for free and to provide tractors to plough their fields.

On other issues, President Khama said he would engage relevant ministers regarding the construction of a senior secondary school in Jwaneng and a second primary school in Sese. However, he emphasised that he was not promising anything as there were many requests from different areas around the country.

Member of Parliament, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile had said there was a need for another primary school in Sese. He said the pupil population was high and that some classes had to be taught under trees. He noted that it was a challenge, especially during harsh weather conditions.

Mr Ntlhaile had also noted that there were two junior secondary schools in Jwaneng, but that there was no senior school in the constituency. He said students had to be sent to schools far away from their parents.

However, the MP said they were grateful for a hospital which was earmarked for Mabutsane and the upgrading of the Mankgodi/Jwaneng road.

For his part, specially elected Member of Parliament, Mr Mephato Reatile applauded President Khama for preventing the closure of Betesankwe and Lefoko primary schools.

He said they experienced a challenge because the two schools did not meet the set requirements and were nearly closed, but that the President intervened and that they were now fully fledged and operational.

He also said it was during President Khama’s tenure that various villages received electricity even though they were not on the electrification plan.

Mr Reatile also commended President Khama for avoiding retrenchment of workers during the economic recession that saw many countries retrenching workers to reduce the wage bill. Ends