13 Dec 2020

Botswana Police Service (BPS) has donated a house worth P150 000 to Ms Kebapetse Tally of Maalosoangwana ward in Pilikwe.

Officially handing over the three-roomed house on December 11, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Keabetswe Makgophe expressed delight that despite numerous challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, police officers in Palapye, in collaboration with the Cluster Policing in Pilikwe, had successfully built a house and delivered the project under the prevailing harsh conditions. 

“Through their voluntary and collective efforts, police officers from this locality surpassed their normal call of duty to deliver a smile and a place to call home, to this family. 

It is, therefore, befitting that we appreciate the efforts of these officers and thank them for the good gesture, as well as urge them to uphold the good image and spirit,” he said.

This, Mr Makgophe said, was a great accomplishment, ‘as the Holly Bible on Proverbs chapter 19 verse 17 says: “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for the deed.’

He stressed that shelter was a basic necessity of life that helped protect people from adverse weather conditions.

“It gives us a sense of security, dignity, honour and respect and therefore goes without saying that being homeless has devastating effects on the affected individuals,” he added.

Botswana Police Service, the commissioner of police said had long embraced community partnership in the delivery of its mandate, which continued to play a critical role in the prevention and detection of crime in the country. 

Therefore, by engaging in social responsibility programmes that supports the needy, Mr Makgophe said, ‘we are essentially giving back to the community in recognition of their invaluable support, which is also aimed at further strengthening the existing collaboration’.

For that reason, he said it was also not surprising to see privileged individuals and groups, in the country, donating food and shelter to fellow citizens in need, as Batswana were a unique nation known for Botho, team spirit, compassion, care and love for one another. 

This noble gesture, Mr Makgophe said, was also in line with the national Vision 2036 pillar of Human and Social Development. 

To Ms Tally, he said  she should consider herself blessed to have been chosen among multitudes of other deserving citizens, to receive the donation and therefore encouraged her and her family to take a good care of the house. 

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Gasebalwe Seretse of Pilikwe applauded BPS for building houses for the needy, saying this was a remarkable initiative. 

He also said he felt honoured that BPS chose to build its 69^th house in Pilikwe. 

The elated recipient, Ms Tally thanked BPS for building her the three-roomed house, a fire place gazebo, a combined toilet and shower, as well as fencing her yard and installing water and electricity. 

The donation, she said, would give her family dignity and protect them from harsh weather conditions such as rainfall, wind and the scotching sun. 

Among the dignitaries that attended the donation was; Pilikwe deputy kgosi, Kgosi Johane Rakumako, BPS divisional commander, North Central, Mr Christopher Mbulawa, BPS  Officer Commanding No. 2 District, Mr Paul Oketsang and Maalosoangwana ward headman, Kgosi Caxton Mosiakgabo. ends