20 Nov 2023

The First Lady, Neo Masisi has urged contestants in the Rural Area Development Programme (RADP) beauty pageant to strive for prosperity in their lives.

Speaking during the Mr and Miss RADP meet and greet session in Gaborone on November 18, Masisi said contestants had exceptional talents, which they could use to improve their livelihoods.

The First Lady, who is the pageant’s patron, encouraged contestants to dream big and exploit their full potential for the benefit of the country. She said they should strive to leave a legacy and work hard to have enterprises that could benefit them.

Masisi called on contestants to dream big and set their sight on the international stage. She said RADP embodied a multifaceted rural development strategy, aiming to ensure inclusivity by reaching every segment of the society.

‘Not only do you represent yourselves, but your families, village, district, country and going globally as well,” she said. 

She hailed male contestants and said gender empowerment was to ensure that no one was left behind in cultivating change.

Masisi urged them to continue  to celebrate their talent, demonstrate their vision and display positive values and initiatives towards development of their community and society as a whole.

The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Talita Monnakgotla said the contestants should aspire for great things. She hailed two former Miss RADP contestants, Lesego Kebadile, from Kutamogoreng and Otshepo Nthoanyana of Zoroga, for making it to the Miss Botswana Top 30.

She said the ministry would continue working closely with them to push to accomplish their ambitions. Monnakgotla further encouraged RADP contestants to continue upholding their values and working hard to leave an indelible mark. A total of 34 contestants from across Botswana will compete for Mr and Miss RADP 2023 crowns.

The crowning for the RADP queen and king is slated for November 25 at Fairgrounds.BOPA