17 Nov 2013

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama has applauded the Botswana Scouts Association (BSA ) for staying true to its mission of instilling the values of disciple, volunteerism, patriotism and self-reliance among Batswana.

Officially opening the Botswana Scouts Annual Council meeting in Gaborone on Saturday, November 16, President Khama, who is also the patron of the scouts association, credited the association for the milestones it achieved in endorsing and restoring the spirit of volunteerism among youth in the country.

He credited the scouting movement for conducting governance workshop for scouts leaders with an aim to address governance issues affecting the association and also to empower the scout leaders with leadership skills needed for the smooth administration of the association.

President Khama said in addition to instilling values to the young generation, the scout movement had over the years made an impact by imparting leadership skills that stood the test of time. He therefore urged the nation to remember to also pay tribute to the 80th anniversary of the scouting movement in 2016 as the country would at the same time mark the republic’s 50th anniversary.

He further advised the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to consult with Kweneng Land board to find ways through which they could assist the scouting associations on resolving the delay on the land use change application that the association had long submitted.

The BSA’s chief commissioner, Mr Moses Kaisara had raised concern that Kweneng Land Board was delaying to agree on the conversion of some piece of land it allocated to the association.

Mr Kaisara explained that the association had no intentions to sell the land but it wanted to lure investors to utilise the land in a more profitable manner that would benefit the association and reduce the association’s dependency on government grant.

Meanwhile, President Khama acknowledged individuals and organisations that supported the association. He particularly expressed gratitude to the Japanese embassy for donating a 14-seater minibus to the association.

He also handed to the association cheques of P30 000 from the President charitable funds and P50 000 from Lady Khama charitable fund. ENDS