02 Oct 2022

 Botswana has taken over leadership of the Africa Scouting Movement, a position that gives the country an automatic seat in the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Committee.

This comes after Lieutenant John Maina was given the reigns of the Africa Scout committee at the 18^th Africa Scout Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya recently.

A press release from Botswana Scout Association says the 18^th Africa Scout Conference was attended by over 40 countries, where elections were held in different categories ranging from Africa Scout Committee, youth advisors and Africa Scout Foundation.

It says Botswana did not only take the leadership of the movement from Ghana, but has also reserved itself a seat in the body mandated with resource mobilisation and attracting partnerships in the movement known as Africa Scout Foundation.

The release further says one of the local fellows, Lieutenant Ezekiel Malenya, who is former chief scout of Botswana, was also elected as the vice chairperson of the Africa Scout Foundation, deputising Ms Jemimah Nartey from Ghana.

Additionally, the release says the Africa Scout Committee and the Africa Awards Committee awarded Lieutenant Malenya the highest and most prestigious Africa Elephant Award in recognition of his outstanding service to scouting in Africa, especially the SADC region.

It also says Lieutenant  Malenya was recognised for his contribution in the areas of education supporting government by donating books, computers, laptops, solar study lights and sponsoring several learners to study at schools and colleges.

On humanitarian support, it says Lieutenant Malenya has donated and continue to donate food hampers to communities in Botswana and the entire SADC region. 

He was recognised for his efforts on social impact during floods in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Kwazulu Natal.

“Nothing was left unnoticed of Lt Malenya’s efforts during COVID-19 for his contribution of donating sanitisers, soap, dispensers and thousands of masks to schools and the community,” the release says. 

The former chief scout, who is also the vice chairperson of Scouts in the SADC Region is also saluted as a leader trainer, which is the highest salutation achieved in adult scouting,” reads the release.

It further says some of the previous awardees for the prestigious Africa Elephant Award include former South Africa president, the late Mr Nelson Mandela as well as former presidents Jerry Rawlings and Mwai Kibaki of Ghana and Kenya respectively.

Again, the release says the conference invited industry leaders to share different perspectives with the participants to inspire new ideas and innovation to keep the scout movement dynamic, relevant and responsive to the changing needs of young people and global circumstances.

It says the Africa Scout Foundation, an organ of the Africa Scout Region, was established to mobilise and continuously accumulate and invest a capital fund towards ensuring a future for scouting in Africa. ENDS