17 Feb 2014

Batswana have been hailed for their selfless spirit of having regard for the destitute people.

The Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe, said over the weekend (February 15) that such culture was instilled in the olden days when relatives cared for orphaned children.

Speaking during the handing over of a house to Ms Onkatswitse Mokgethi of Kalamare in the Central District, Dr Kedikilwe hailed Batswana for not losing humanity under modernity. He said Batswana should continue upholding such a compassionate and caring character, social harmony and cohesion to build a nation.

“Martin Luther King Jr. once said everyman must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness,” stated Dr Kedikilwe.

Dr Kedikilwe also challenged and encouraged Batswana to uphold the spirit of having a dream such that the future generation would benefit.

He said it was a dream that saw the former chiefs going to England for Botswana’s Independence, also saying it was a dream that saw the Vision 2016 being formed.

He urged Batswana to be challenged to have dreams that would leave a mark. He hailed the Cresta group for adopting a policy that incorporated plans and programmes aligned to Vision 2016.

The VP said by building a house, Cresta Group had taken into consideration the initiative to alleviate poverty and had provided social security, warmth, dignity and self-worth to the elderly woman. “Underlying this good work by Cresta is a deeper cultural heritage of the traditional care system,” he said.

He commended the Cresta Marakanelo for the house built at a cost over P90 000 and urged the group to continue the good work.

Dr Kedikilwe said Batswana had proven that they were a loving nation saying he had been to similar events six times in two months. “That depicts that Batswana have vision and philosophy to help those in need,” he said.

He stated that Ms Mokgethi frame of mind has been changed at the realisation that she too is alive and there are people who are concerned about her welfare

Dr Kedikilwe said since the inception of the presidential housing appeal, 356 houses have so far been handed over to the needy Batswana while 29 are under construction.

However, he said these statistics were exclusive of similar initiatives, which did not fall under the auspices of the Presidential appeal. ENDS