06 May 2018

First Lady, Ms Neo Masisi says her family will do its utmost in rendering services to Batswana.

Ms Masisi made the pledge at a gathering of women from different denominations under the auspices of the Botswana Christian Council (BCC) who had converged on the Evangelical Lutheran Church for prayers on May 3.

The First Lady said she and President Mokgweetsi Masisi would discharge their responsibilities with excellence as they believed doing any less would be tantamount to spiting on God from whom Botswana’s good name came.

She assured Batswana that their position as the first family was not about glitz or glitter, but about constantly making sacrifices in an endeavour to render quality service to the nation.

Highlighting the importance of sound upbringing of children, Ms Masisi said it was critical to understand that children were leaders in their own right and not only in the future as it was often thought.

She said it was crucial to groom children properly and instill in them the understanding that leadership entailed various responsibilities that needed to be executed with excellence.

The First Lady implored all women and girl children to be first ladies in their own little corners by striving for excellence in whatever they did..

“Let us be prayerful women who build families, communities and nations.

Let us be women who build bridges and not walls. Let us be women who lead by example.

A re nneng metswedi e e sa kgaleng,” she said, appealing to them to always exude positivity despite the challenges they may encounter in life.

In the end, Ms Masisi thanked the women for having held the prayers for her and her family, and commended them for having shown their support for her.

In a brief sermon, the BCC’s vice president responsible for gender and development, Ms Bonolo Mmereki-Burns urged the First Lady to anchor herself on God.

Ms Mmereki-Burns also implored the First Lady to always pray for her husband so that he would not falter in the face of adversity.

She also called on women to collaborate with Ms Masisi towards the realisation of the pledges she has made upon assuming her role as First Lady.

Ms Mmereki-Burns said it was only if they worked alongside her that the First Lady would realise her dream of helping to empower the girl children as well as women in rural communities.

Earlier, BCC president, Bishop Metlhayotlhe Beleme noted that the prayers were held to thank God for the smooth transition in governance that Botswana had enjoyed for decades as well as to pray for continued peace and tranquility.

Bishop Beleme said the prayer meeting also provided a platform to appreciate, recognise and pray for the First Lady, and also to pledge support to her and her family.

He said the occasion also provided an opportunity to assure Ms Masisi and her family that the church would pray for them during their time of service to Botswana.ENDS