21 Jul 2013

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama and Vice President Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe on July 19 set aside their afternoon schedule and took part in painting Gakuto tribal administration offices during the Ministry of State President community service day.

The President and VP, who were accompanied by cabinet ministers, also donated office filing cabinets and chairs to furnish the kgotla office which was built through self-reliance efforts and the drought relief programme in 2005.

Explaining the objective of the event, the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Dr Gloria Somolekae said the event was part of government call on civil servants and people in public office to set aside a day every month to perform community and charity works, and towards attaining national vision ideals.

In response to concerns of non-connectivity of the kgotla office to the national electricity grid, the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila pointed out that government has taken a decision to connect all government offices and institutions to electricity lines during the current financial year.

Kgosi Letamma of Gakuto expressed hope that the initiative would start at the kgotla because rural electrification programme of the 100 villages launched in 2007 started at the village, but kgotla offices were omitted as a result of laxity on the part of civil servants.

“The kgotla office, had it not been delays by civil servants, could be connected to the electricity national grid in 2007 when government and BPC launched the rural electrification programme here. Connecting the office was part of the package of hosting the launch,” he said.

Kgosi Letamma said because as village leadership they were aware of financial difficulties faced by the government, they asked for assistance from private companies and institutions, and were lucky when Plascon in Gaborone donated paint and accessories.

He also commended the President, cabinet ministers and employees of the Ministry of State President for the donations noting that the items were necessary as the offices were handed to them with inadequate office furniture.  ENDS