06 Nov 2021

The President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, has called on Batswana to promote unity and peace.

He told a consultative kgotla meeting in Rakops on Friday that Botswana could not be divided into two, hence the need for unity amongst Batswana. 

All Batswana, he said, were equal regardless of their tribe or totem. 

Dr Masisi indicated that a pivotal principle that could lead towards building a peaceful and united nation was to uphold being a Motswana. 

Botswana, he said, was among longest democratic governments in Africa, so it should be safeguarded.  He cautioned Batswana against entertaining tendencies that could  threaten the country’s legacy. 

He implored Batswana to respect anyone chosen to the position of leadership saying it was a custom and cultural norm in Botswana to respect leaders. 

Dr Masisi further stated that a kgotla system had its own customs, policies and values, noting that it was a unique system. 

He encouraged Batswana to promote and preserve cultural customs, stating that active participation of chiefs in politics was prohibited. 

He urged members of the public to respect kgotla institutions during the review of the constitution. 

In addition, he stated that package B and C of the gameproof fence which prevented wild animals from gaining access to tribal area would be done at once. 

Dr Masisi also indicated that airstrip land would be surveyed and it would be completed in a period of two weeks.

When commenting, the Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane stated that members of the public had the power to establish a republican constitution. 

Botswana, he said, was a republic not a kingdom, citing that all decisions made by government were in line with the constitution. 

For her part, the Village Development Committee chairperson Ms Bashingi  Boingotlo requested a Rural Administration Centre and construction of bridge that crossed  the river to the other side of the village. 

Ms Boingotlo also called for public officers’ institutional houses as well as conversion of state land to to tribal land to cater for expansion of grazing land. Ends