16 May 2019

 Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso says family structure has significant socio-economic benefits.

Officiating at international family day on May 15, Ms Tshireletso said in the past, when families were united, they managed to tackle socio-economic challenges better as unit and as a result poverty was a rare phenomenon.

In a family setting, she said, parents were able to impart lifelong skills, moral and social values to their children.

“It (family) therefore remains very significant to our social life, by ensuring the wellbeing of members, educating and grooming children, as well as caring for young and old,” she stated.

The theme of the day “families and climate change: focus on SDG 13”, Ms Tshireletso said, placed emphasis on Social Development Goal Number 13 and the central goal of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development that encourages appropriate action to combat climate change and its impact.

Climate change, she said,  threatened peoples’ way of life as it was an impediment to economic growth, particularly in the agricultural sector.

Ms Tshireletso challenged every individual and the nation to bring forth more intense innovations to mitigate the effects of climate change.

She also implored them to come up with projects that would combat the scourge by creating employment, improving health and saving the environment as well as generating income.

“I wish to acknowledge individual singular effort in recycling of materials, veldt firefighters, clean up campaigns, tree planting and other conservative initiatives,” he said.

Chairperson of Ghanzi Network of Civil Societies, Pastor Johannes Kahuadi said the family structure should be protected at all costs and that spouses should work closely together.

Pastor Kahuadi said it was worrisome that despite free education in the country, some children did not go to school while there was a high number of school drop outs and high dependency syndrome.

He appealed to parents to mould their children’s future.

For his part, Ghanzi North MP Mr Noah Salakae said environmental conservation was the way to go noting that environmental changes affected human and family welfare. ENDS