Hon. Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration - Government Committed to Promoting Good Social Values

source: Republic of Botswana (14/3/10) TAUTONA TIMES no 4 of 2010
The Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity, Discipline and Delivery"

9) 11/3/10 Hon. Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration - Government Committed to Promoting Good Social Values

Speaking today at a consultative workshop for Members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, the Hon. Lesego Motsumi, affirmed that Government expects Ministries and other stakeholders to implement relevant recommendations of The National Strategy for Promoting Good Social Values.

In her remarks, the Minister observed that the Strategy, which had been published in the form of a "White Paper" in June of last year, was Government's response to the conclusions and recommendations of the report that had been earlier submitted by the Joint Advisory Committee of the Ntlo Ya Dikgosi and the Botswana Council of Churches on Social Values, which was appointed by H.E. the President, Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama in 2008.

According to the Minister through its wide consultations the Joint Committee had identified a wide range of social ills and their causes and subsequently recommended a number of interventions and strategies for addressing them.

The Minister informed the gathering that having carefully considered the Joint Advisory Committee's report, Cabinet had approved the majority of its recommendations through a Presidential Directive endorsing the White Paper.

The same Directive further defines the administrative and institutional framework for monitoring and implementing the Joint Committee's accepted recommendations. In this respect, the Minister informed the assembled Dikgosi that it had been mandated that regular reports on the implementation of the strategy should be submitted to Cabinet through the Minister's Office. As a result, two sets progress reports from concerned Ministries have already been so submitted, in August and December of 2009, while the next report is due in April 2010.

In response to the Minister's remarks the Chairman of the Ntlo ya Dikgosi, Kgosi Puso Gaborone thanked the Minister for providing an opportunity for the House to gain feedback and provide further input into the National Strategy. He also noted the wide range of issues that the Joint Committee had looked into, including such challenges as domestic violence, rape, vandalism, juvenile delinquency, road abuse and the commercialization of bogadi. The Chairman went on to note that the Joint Committee had been guided in its deliberations by common values such as Botho and the role of Magosi to promote the welfare of the community.

The week long workshop which began on Monday (8/3/10) will close tomorrow, Friday (12/3/10) when the Chairman of the Ntlo ya Dikgosi, Kgosi Puso Gaborone and the Minister are expected to address a Press Conference, currently scheduled for noon.