02 Aug 2023

Batswana should actively play their role in order for the country to attain its aspiration of becoming a prosperous nation.

These are the words of an elder and Zion Christian Church pastor at Tsau, Pastor Orebotse Gakeitse in an interview appreciating President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s rams, bucks and bull donation and Mindset Change initiatives.

He said the initiatives were a welcome development as they resonated with the spirit of self-help and reliance that assisted the country to attain the desired levels of development in the past.

He said Batswana should support the initiatives for them to bear fruit.

“The livestock donation reminds me of the past when we used to embrace our national principles of self-reliance and unity. During our time, we used to make some sacrifices to support those who were disadvantaged f but that spirit has died silently because of dependency on government,” he added

Pastor Gakeitse said the initiatives was a call on the nation to reflect, embrace the spirit of self-help and consider reviving some traditional systems such as mafisa and molaletsa which had previously helped to reduce the level of poverty in the country.

In the past, he said, Batswana avoided  dependency on government as most wealth and income was derived from traditional agriculture, particularly cattle farming.

The community, he said embraced the mafisa system where cattle owners loaned cattle to disadvantaged people without cattle to take care of and feed their families.

“Those who were loaned the animals provided their families with milk, ploughed their fields and also carried other domestic errands such as transporting their harvest while on the other hand the loaner benefited as his animals were cared for, I commend our President for demonstrating a visionary leadership by encouraging Batswana to resuscitate the spirit through the livestock donation initiative as the arrangement also boosted the country’s pastoral agriculture as many develop interest in rearing of cattle,” he added.

Pastor Gakeitse appreciated that the donation did not only benefit recipients but all farmers in the extension area.

He linked the initiative to Mindset Change campaign, which he said called all to introspect and do things differently. The campaign, he said motivated Batswana to embrace change and take advantage of the available opportunities presented by the government.

He described the campaign as a brilliant concept which called everyone to engage in self re-examination and introspection at the level of the community and as a nation and commit to change in whatever way was necessary to contribute meaningfully to the development process.

He stressed that Batswana should adapt to change without sacrificing the positive aspects of their culture and values.

“These concepts remind us that it was only through the spirit of self-help and hard work that our country can move forward and ensure no one lived in poverty. If we all take them to heart and support them indeed we could fulfill aspirations of the Vision 2036 of leaving no one behind,” he added. ends