27 Mar 2018

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has called on Bangwato and the nation to give Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi all the support they gave him as President.

Bidding Bangwato farewell in Serowe yesterday, President Khama said he was leaving Batswana in the capable hands of Mr Masisi whom he described as a ‘very intelligent’ and hard working person who has a lot of knowledge on governance and the public service.

The President said he had trust in Mr Masisi whom he said always carried out all the work assigned to him with diligence, adding “Mr Masisi has never disappointed me not even once.”

President Khama who is also Kgosi Kgolo of Bangwato thanked Mr Masisi for his support, assuring Bangwato and the nation that Mr Masisi will not disappoint them either.

On other issues, President Khama thanked Bangwato Regent, Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane manning the fort for him.

He said unity and peace were reigning within Bangwato tribe because of Kgosi Kgamane’s good leadership.

He informed Bangwato that he will not neglect his duties as their kgosi, explaining that he will keep assisting Kgosi Kgamane with duties related to bogosi, promising to hold a meeting with him and other dikgosi to find ways of assisting them.

He said during his tenure as President, he has never forgotten that he is Bangwato kgosi, as such he and his regiment of “malwelamotse” refurbished the kgotla.

President Khama equally thanked former Serowe North MP, Mr Roy Blackbeard for relinquishing his duties as Serowe North MP to pave way for him to become Serowe North MP.

He said being the MP for Serowe North constituency accorded him the opportunity to ascend to the position of Vice President under former president, Dr Festus Mogae. 

He also thanked his brother Mr Tshekedi Khama for giving him all the support by allowing him to stand for elections and serving in his Cabinet, adding that Mr Khama had done a lot.

He further informed Bangwato that he will continue serving the nation beyond his presidency and expressed gratitude to Bangwato for their gifts which included among others 143 cattle, 80 goats, 17 sheep, 243 chickens, two horses, Isuzu 4X4, fully fledged caravan as well as cash amounting to P416 000.

Vice President, Mr Masisi thanked President Khama and assured him that he was ready to take over as President.

He said though President Khama’s term was coming to an end, he would always consider him as his President.

Kgosi Kgamane also took the opportunity to thank President Khama for fulfilling his promise to serve the nation with diligence.

He also thanked him for giving him support, adding that he would not have carried out his duties well without President Khama’s support.

He said he had done his best to unite and protect Bangwato.

Different speakers described President Khama as a loving and hardworking leader who had the interests of his people at heart.

A resident Ms Edna Monyena described President Khama as a “Rock, Engine, Advisor and Pillar.”

She thanked President Khama for standing by his words after informing Bangwato that he was not going to lead a nation of poverty or beggars nor was he going to lead a nation destroyed by alcohol and drugs.

Ms Monyena said President Khama introduced programmes aimed at eradicating poverty and growing the economy as well as paying attention to the less privileged members of society as well as People Living with Disability, the youth, the widowed and orphans. ENDS