07 Nov 2021

Batswana must preserve the country’s track record as Africa’s oldest and longest running democracy, President Masisi made the call during a kgotla meeting in Rakops Friday.
He said nation building was born of patriotism where the patriot was eager to see peace and unity prevail.

Thus he called on all to uphold their unifying identity as Batswana, and to guard against any divisive tendencies.

The President said Botswana remained a united country for all Batswana and the nation should resist any attempts by tribal bigots to divide the nation.

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

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 Batswana’s perculiar kgotla system had its own customs, policies and values,that must be safeguarded.

One such safeguard was prohibiting serving dikgosi to be involved in politics he said.

He said as Botswana prepared for the anticipated constitutional review members of the public must as always respect the kgotla institutions during the exercise.

On wildlife-human conflict the president stated that package A of the game-proof fence had been completed and packages B and C would be done at the same time.

Stage B would otherwise be done during financial year 2022/23 while stage C would be done the following financial year.

When commenting, the Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane emphasised that Botswana was republic and not a kingdom, as attested to by all decisions made by government, which were in line with the constitution.

For her part, the Village Development Committee chairperson Ms Bashingi Boingotlo asked that a Rural Administration Centre and a bridge across the Boteti the river be built.

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