25 Mar 2018

President Lt General Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama  has urged Batswana to be devoted to the spirit of giving and caring for the less privileged members of the society.

President Khama made the call at his farewell meeting at Paje recently.

Bidding farewell to Serowe North constituency, President Khama said giving was part of Batswana  culture to help one another.

The President was responding to the accolades made by area Member of Parliament(MP) who is also assistant minister in the ministry of agricultural development and food security, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse who had stated that like his father, the late Sir

Seretse Khama, President Khama has been blessed with the spirit of giving.

Mr Autlwetse said through President Khama’s kindness and initiatives aimed at developing Batswana, the needy and those with disabilities were given a renewed lease of life.

He said a legacy is not all about infrastructural development, as it must also focus on developing human beings.  

He said localities that were not well developed were also catered for through affirmative action among other programmes where children from those areas were given an opportunity to further their tertiary education through special dispensation.

He also applauded President Khama for being firm in decision making as he was always brave enough to make his point on international issues and other issues of concern without violating the rule of law.

“Based on the good that you have done for your people, it is now time to harvest what you have cultivated. You were an ideal sacrifice to the nation and you stirred hope in many and gave the opportunities to blossom,” he said.

In response, President Khama acknowledged that the community and the leadership appreciated what he has done for the nation.

He said fighting poverty gave those affected the dignity that they had long desired for.

As such, he said funds permitting government must do all in its power to develop Batswana.

“We must not only focus on infrastructural development and we should not be shy to develop a human being,” he said.

On his road map of five Ds, President Khama said the issue of development focused on infrastructure and human development.

He said through projects such as ISPAAD government gave the community an opportunity to fully engage in arable farming to improve their livelihoods.

He also acknowledged that his parents had contributed to what he is today: caring for those in need.

President Khama, however said he did not only learn from his father, his mother, the late Ruth Khama also contributed immensely to his philanthropic actions.

“It is not only like father like son, it is also like mother like son,” he added.

President Khama said his spirit of giving was not only learnt from his parents, adding that sharing and “caring is part and parcel of Tswana culture. It is our culture to help one another and therefore it was upon me, as a Botswana citizen to do that. I appeal to every one of you to devote to the spirit of sharing, it is part and parcel of our culture.”

On behalf of the community, Mr Lefetsakgang Mokhondo appreciated the support that President Khama has accorded the community towards uplifting their livelihoods.

Mr Mokhondo said the poverty eradication programme has proved to be key in uplifting livelihoods of those who were about to lose hope in life.

He said as a result of the available packages, poverty is feeling the pinch and on the verge of being eliminated.

Mr Mokhondo further applauded President Khama for reviving arts and culture and even providing the youth with some form of recreation through constituency tournaments.

Above all, Mr Mokhondo said President Khama was focused on uniting the nation. ENDS