05 Nov 2020

 President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has urged Batswana to maintain a culture of supporting and consoling bereaved families.

Speaking during a visit to the family of former Okavango MP, Mr Vista Moruti on Wednesday, Dr Masisi said people should always extend their support to a particular family, be it during times of sorrow or joy.

“Supporting each other during difficult or cheerful times depicts the spirit of Botho that we are known for as Batswana,” he stressed.

Mr Setlhare Samucha, who is Mr Moruti’s relative, appreciated Dr Masisi’s visit, noting that his stopover would soothe the family, especially the deceased’s children.

He said the former Okavango MP was rushed to Gumare Primary Hospital on October 28 and was later transferred to Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital in Maun where he died on Sunday.

The President also visited the family of Ms Itshekeng Thebenala, who was a school head at Kathiana Primary School in Shakawe.

Dr Masisi praised Ms Thebenala for her leadership style, which contributed  to improvement of the school’s results.

Elder brother to the deceased, Mr Thebenala Thebenala, thanked the President for standing with them during a difficult time.

Mr Thebenala said his sister’s sudden death on Saturday, shocked not only the whole family, but the Okavango community.

He said Ms Thebenala was a mother figure to the family, which lost their mother in 2012.

On another issues, the President criticised some Batswana who believed that COVID-19 did not exist, warning that the corona virus was real and thus people should always adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

The President further noted that such health protocols were not meant to punish anyone, but rather to protect the nation from the deadly virus.

Furthermore, he noted that though it was not government’s intention to impose a lockdown as that would cripple the economy, the behaviour displayed at bars might prompt one.

Okavango MP, Mr Kenny Kapinga commended Dr Masisi for having seen it worthy to console the bereaved families, saying the visit would soothe them. Ends