09 Jul 2024

The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) headquarters are winners of this year’s BDF Shooting competition, which was hosted by the Eastern Military Garrison at Mantswe-a-Ditshwene ranges. 

The runners up BDF’s 3-Brigade Group and 1-Brigade Group scooped positions two and three respectively. 

The week-long competition brought together the finest shooters from across the SADC region in particular Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. 

“Your participation bears testimony to our long standing bilateral cooperation between Botswana and your respective countries and by extension our efforts towards SADC goals and aspirations of maintaining peace and security,” said Maj. General Hendrick Rakgantswana during the closing ceremony of the shooting competition held at EMG over the weekend. 

He said the spirit of camaraderie, discipline and excellence that had been exhibited throughout the competition was a testament to the unwavering commitment of all participants, adding ‘today we celebrate not only our visitors but the entire competitive spirit exhibited by all skilled shooters who have displayed exceptional marksmanship skills.’

 Maj. General Rankgatswana commended the winners for setting the bar high for fellow competitors and inspiring others to strive for great heights in pursuit of excellence. 

He urged those who did not perform to the requisite standard not to lose hope and continue with the fighting spirit of a true warrior. 

“Train to perfect the fighting skills in peacetime and thereby ensuring survival during wartime. Be reminded that this competition forms a foundation to our existing bilateral relations between our countries and in particular our sister defence forces that seeks to achieve SADC goals and aspirations of maintaining peace and security,” he said. 

The leader of the Namibian shooting delegation, Lt Col. Filippus Aukongo, thanked SADC for the establishment of good military relationship among the region’s member states. He thanked BDF for the warm invitation and hospitality and also extended his gratitude to the sister defence forces of Zimbabwe and Zambia for participating in the competition. 

“The kind of SADC Defence Forces Sisterhood Legacy we are enjoying today should be passed on onto our future military generations to come for the benefit of our entire region,” he said. ENDS