06 Sep 2022

Kgosi Malepa Orekeng of Ntlhantlhe has pleaded for his village to be aided with citrus fruit production.

Speaking during Homeboys Social Club’s donation of education materials to Emang Junior Secondary School recently, Kgosi Orekeng said there was need for Botswana to increase citrus fruit production so as to meet demand. 

He, therefore, asked companies and social club members to donate citrus fruit trees to his village so as to start the ball rolling. 

He said his vision was for every household in the village to have at least one citrus fruit tree, arguing that the move would make other communities to eventually emulate Ntlhantlhe.

Highlighting the importance of citrus fruit production, he noted that they would boost the people’s health, which was crucial for the performance of the country’s economy as there was a strong correlation between health and economy. 

He said a productive work force was a healthy one, emphatically pointing out that citrus fruits had a lot of nutritional value, citing their richness in vitamin C and B, fibre, calcium, thiamin, riboflavin and a variety of phytochemicals.

He said research had also shown that consumption of citrus fruits also reduced the risk of kidney failure and contracting cancer over and above aiding digestion and weight loss.

On other issues, he commended Homeboys Social Club for donating school shoes worth over P10 000 and toiletries worth over P15 000 to Emang JSS, which had an enrolment of 412 pupils.

 Appreciating the donation, Emang JSS head, Mr Donald Seitsang said the school started the partnership with Homeboys Social Club as far back as 2018 and over the years they had donated several items that added value to the academic performance of the school. Homeboys Social Club representative and founding president, Mr Tshepiso Mothupi said they started their journey in 2016 when there was literally nothing, but through perseverance the club achieved great milestones.

He said the their belief was that education dis not start at school, but started with a child’s dignity, arguing that the donated items would give learners the much needed dignity to improve their academic performance. ENDS