08 May 2022

 The family as the foundation of society should be strengthened to ensure strong national building blocks, says the Minister of Defence and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi.
Handing over a two bed-roomed house built through a collaboration between Attorney General’s Chambers and PPC Botswana at Extension 11 in Palapye on Saturday, Mr Mmusi said a family was central to household, community and national socio-economic stability.
The house was built for the late Ms Khabe Sobe of Serorome ward in Palapye, who left behind four children aged between 16 and 20 years.
Mr Mmusi said they understood that peace would remain elusive until families have shelter. He noted that they handed over shelter to the Sobe family to strengthen and bond the family.
“Strong nations are built on strong families and therefore by strengthening families, we are strengthening our communities and our nation,’’ he said.
Mr Mmusi noted that his former Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security had been a very strong contributor in building families by providing housing to identified families.
The project was initiated by the Attorney General’s Chambers under the leadership of Advocate Abram Keetshabe, he said.
The minister mentioned that AG’s chambers saw it fit to combine the little resources raised through staff financial contributions and team up with PPC Botswana to deliver the house.
“The unique combination of lawyers and business entity that is in the construction industry has indeed generated more than remarkable results. The initiative is highly commendable, it presents an indelible mark not only to the Sobe family but also to the entire nation on what teamwork achieves,’’ he said.
Minister Mmusi thanked PPC Botswana, who had demonstrated a high level of understanding corporate social responsibility by sacrificing their resources to provide dignity and comfort to some needy members of the society.
Business entities, he said, thrived on people and it was a welcome development for a company to turn its focus to people and take a deliberate decision to improve and better the quality of life.
He said PPC Botswana had raised the bar and set a standard by cooperating and collaborating with a government department to put its resources to good use.
The house, he said was constructed during the state of public emergency on account of the COVID-19 pandemic and faced serious challenges.
He said challenges often generated opportunities, adding that the project was a classic example of success in the midst of severe and hard-biting COVID-19 challenges.
He said the project should serve as an encouragement to business entities that even in the midst of severe headwinds, solutions should be found.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General Advocate Keetshabe said the Palapye office of Directorate of Public Prosecutions engaged the Palapye Administrative Authority through social and development office to assist in identifying a family, and Ms Khabe Sobe  was identified.
He said unfortunately on March 5, 2020, Ms Sobe succumbed to her ailment leaving behind four children. The house was completed on November 29, 2021. ENDS