14 May 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi has saluted Moshupa-based Digatlhamelamasisi Multipurpose Team for their gesture.

Digatlhamelamasisi resonated the saying that ‘bravery is not all about swords and charging into battle’ by organising what they termed a ‘surprise party’ for President Masisi where they also donated 11 herds of cattle and a billy goat at the family farm at Mmatseta on Sunday.

Such, the team chairperson, Councillor Ponatshego Tshiping said, was a ‘brave step’ they took to celebrate and welcome President Masisi to the country’s highest office.

“Ever since you assumed the presidency, these benevolent souls have been nagging me to organise a session to usher you to your new post in a special way and I have been trying to persuade you to give us a slot in your tight schedule,” Cllr Tshiping said.

Receiving the gifts, President Masisi thanked the team for their goodwill, saying “on behalf of the Masisi family and my wife, I am sincerely grateful from the bottom of my heart, for the gifts you gave me.  I promise to look after them and I will name each one of them by some of you here, including my Vice President Slumber Tsogwane.”

Nevertheless, President Masisi told them that he had started his job earnestly and had thus far visited some countries in the SADC region to introduce himself and further firm relations with them.

He indicated that almost all the countries he had visited were looking forward to visit Botswana on some benchmarking in public institutions.

He added that his counterparts in those countries did not cease talking about democracy that continued to reign in Botswana.

Meanwhile, given that the day was also a day to celebrate Mother’s Day, President Masisi took the opportunity to also pay special wishes to his wife, Neo and his mother.

Meanwhile, Vice President, Mr Tsogwane also commended Digatlhamelamasisi and Batswana for their noble gesture towards President Masisi. Mr Tsogwane further thanked former president Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama for entrusting President Masisi to lead the nation.

“His choice of president may be termed as what the doctor has prescribed for the patient. Mr Masisi is a self-made leader, his love and humility for his constituents and Batswana at large speak volumes,” he said.

Mr Tsogwane said he trusted that President Masisi would continue to lead Botswana to prosperity like his predecessors.

Thus, he wished the President well, adding he was also honoured to be vice president and hence promised to do his best in serving the country.

On the other hand, First lady Neo Masisi also thanked the constituents for the continuous support and confidence they had on her husband, and like other speakers, wished Mr Masisi well.

Also present at the event was Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) secretary general, Mr Mpho Balopi, who lauded the country’s smooth transition as true beckon of democracy that continued to prevail. Ends