Christmas and New Year Message to the Nation by H.E. Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama President of the Republic of Botswana - December 2008

source: REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA - OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
26/12/08 - Tautona Times Holiday Special

Below please find below transcripts in English (1) and Setswana (2) of H.E. the President's Christmas Day and New Year's message to the nation:

1) CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO THE NATION BY H.E. LT. GEN. SERETSE KHAMA IAN KHAMA PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA - DECEMBER 2008

1. Bagaetsho! As we come to the end of another eventful year, it is a pleasure for me to have this opportunity to wish each and everyone a safe and pleasant holiday season.

2. For many of us this day holds a special significance as the anniversary of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, a pivotal event for believers that marks a transformative moment in humanity's existence.

3. For all of us, this can also be a time of new beginnings, as we come together to enjoy an annual break from life's routine.

4. As many of us have the pleasure of returning to our home villages; and as we find comfort and draw strength in the company of family and friends; we may also find the time for personal reflection as well as shared celebration.

5. The coming New Year will be full of challenges, however I am sure all of you will have heard about the current Global economic crisis as alluded to by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning to Parliament about two weeks ago.

6. Our economy is already feeling the negative impact of the global downturn in mineral commodity prices, therefore some of our programmes and projects will have to adjust their targets and timeframes to the reality of a general slowdown in trans-national investment.

7. Past savings and prudence shall be put to use to minimize the impact of current and expected downturns in revenue on Government programmes.

8. But, as we acknowledge the difficulties we are to face, let us also be encouraged by the fact that today's Botswana is the living legacy of men and women who overcame far greater adversity to forge our present progress.

9. Like them we must harvest our hopes by not giving into unfounded fears or cynical excuses for failing to achieve the best that lies within us. We should in the coming difficult period therefore motivate ourselves to work harder, be more productive, and turn this coming slowdown into opportunities that will see us come out of it on a better footing to achieve our goals both personally and nationally as we go forward with our development programmes.

10. As I also stated in my address before Parliament, just in the past few months alone, our country has continued to receive international accolades for our collective achievements in various fields.

11. If others can see something of the best in us, how much more aware should we be of our own God given potential?

12. Let us therefore not hesitate in taking justifiable pride in who we are, while being ever more ambitious in achieving all that we can be.

13. Crime is another challenge that can be defeated if we exercise greater collective responsibility by watching out for each other and working together with the police service. This is especially true during this time of the year, when criminals can be expected to try to take advantage of those who are away from their homes. Let us therefore keep an eye out for our neighbours as well as ourselves.

14. Substance abuse, that is the overindulgence of alcohol and use of banned substances, continues to aggravate the spread of HIV, as well as many of the other social ills we face from rape and domestic violence to the carnage of our roads. Thus it is that each year this time of joy becomes a season of sorrow for some among us.

15. Road accidents continue to rival the virus as the leading cause of premature death. Here again, let us keep the spirit of the season alive by practicing individual and collective responsibility and discipline.

16. Let us, therefore, all be united in faith and in prayer for the greater peace, prosperity and the wellbeing of our community during the coming year, and give thought and help to the disadvantaged in our society. Casting aside selfishness and reaching out to others will see us attain our vision of being a united and proud nation. Let us also pray for the suffering that our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe are going through at the present time and hope that 2009 will deliver them better leadership that will help them to overcome their own crisis.

17. Finally let us beseech God's blessings for good rains, as I, in closing once again wish you all a joyous Christmas and productive New Year.


2) MOLAETSA WA GA MOTLOTLEGI TAUTONA LT. GEN. SERETSE KHAMA IAN KHAMA TAUTONA WA LEFATSHE LA BOTSWANA WA LETSATSI LA BOTSALO JWA MORENA LE NGWAGA O MOSHA MORULE, 2008

1. Bagaetsho, e re ka re digela ngwaga wa ditiragalo tse di ntsi,ke itumelela go bona sebaka sa go lo eleletsa lotlhe malatsi a boitapoloso a a babalesegileng.

2. Letsatsi la botsalo jwa Morena le na le bokao jo bogolo mo go ba le ba ntsi ba rona, ka re le amanya le go tsalwa ga Morena Jeso Keresete, se eleng tiragalo ya botlhokwa mo go ba ba dumelang, ka jaana e le yone modi wa tlholego ya motho.

3. Mme gape ke nako e rotlhe re tsenang mo ngwageng o mosha, o mo go one re kopanelang go itapolosa le go itumela, re e kgwa sepshwe mo go tse re tlwaetseng go di dira letsatsi le letsatsi.

4. Jaaka bontsi jwa rona re boela kwa magaeng go ya go bonana le go tlhola ba masika le ditsala, a re tsee sebaka se, motho mongwe le mongwe go itshekatsheka ka bo ene, le go tlhakanela boitumelo le ba bangwe.

5. Ngwaga oo tlang ke ngwaga wa dikgwetlho tse di ntsi. Ke solohela gore rotlhe re ne ra utlwa Tona Wa Madi le Ditogamaana tsa Ditlhabololo mo dibekeng tse pedi tse di hetileng, ha a ne a re lekodisa ka seemo se se sa iketlang sa itsholelo ya lehatshe ka bophara.

6. Itsholelo ya lehatshe la rona e setse e babalelwa ke go wa ga di tlhotlwa tsa di tswa mmung, mo go tlaa re pateletsang go sekaseka le go rulaganya mangwe mananeo a rona sesha go tsamaalana le seemo se.

7. Re tlamega go dirisa ka kelotlhoko matlotlo a re ntseng re a bolokile mo mananeong a puso, go fema manokonoko mo meamusong e e teng.

8. Mme le ha re mekamekana le mathata a a re emeng pele gompieno, a re ikgomotseng ka go lemoga gore, Botswana yo re mo akolang yo, ke letlotlo le re le tlogeletsweng ke Bo-Rre le Bo-Mme ba ba tshedileng pele ga rona, ba ba hentseng mathata a a hetang a re nang nao gompieno, mme ba re betlela tsela ya bokamoso.

9. A re tshwaneng le bone re nne le tsholofelo, re seka ra boiha ka na go kgobega marapo, mme re lemoge le go atla boleng jwa rona. A re itseteleng-a-dimo mo malatsing a a thata a a tlang, re dire ka natla go bona maduo a boleng, gore re henye go koahala ga seemo sa itsholelo se se solofetsweng. Se, se ka re thusa go fitlhelela maikaelelo le dikeletso tsa rona re le sechaba le ka bongwe ka bongwe. "Motswana a re maano a botshelo ga a site go sita a loso."

10. Jaaka ke setse ke boleletse Palamente, lehatshe la rona le ntse le amogela dikakgolo go tswa mo mahatsheng a mangwe, ka ntlha ya popagano ya rona e e re kgontshang ditiro tse di harologanyeng.
11. Mme ha batho ba bangwe ba kgona go lemoga boleng le bokgoni jwa
rona, a ga se gore rona ka sebele re itemogele gore re abetswe ke Modimo mme re ka kgona go le gontsi.

12. Go a re tshwanela go ipela mme ra tswelela ra kgaratlhela go dira go heta jaaka re dirile go hitlha ha re leng teng gompieno.

13. Re na le kgwetlho ya go lwantsha bogodu le borukutlhi, mme re ka kgona hela ha re tshwaraganye re thusanya, gape re dirisanya sentle le mapodise, bogolo jang ka yone nako e ya botsalo jwa Morena, ka ke gone ha magotswana le dirukutlhi ba simolotseng go sasanka ba itse ha re tlaa bo re seo mo malwapeng a rona. A re lebeleleng malwapa a baagisanyi ha ba seo, le rona re itlhokomele mo dirukutlhing.

14. Ditagi le go iphetisa dino le tsone di tsweletse ka go gakatsa go anama ga mogare wa HIV le bolwetse jwa AIDS. Dilo tseo gape ke tsone di rotloetsang kgokgontsho ya mo malwapeng le dipetelelo, le go gakatsa dikotsi tsa dipalamo le dintsho. Ke sone se e a reng mo nakong eno ya boitumelo, bangwe ba rona ba tloge ba tsene mo selelong le bohutsana.

15. Dikotsi le dintsho tsa dipalamo di setse di lepalepana le dintsho tse di bakwang ke mogare wa HIV. A ere mo seemong se, re tshegetse mowa wa boitumelo le kagiso, re nne le boikarabelo le boitshwaro motho ka bo ene, le sechaba ka kakaretso.

16. A re tshwaraganeng mo thapelong le tumelo, re rapeleleng bokamoso, katlego, botsogo jwa chaba ya rona le ledula, mme re nne re gopole bangwe ka rona ba ba tlhokileng lesego mo botshelong. Ha re ka tlogela go iteba re le nosi mme ra otlolola lebogo la lorato, ke gone re ka ipelang gore re chaba e e bopaganyeng e e lorato. A re gopoleng bo morwaa rraa rona ka ha Zimbabwe, re rapele gore ba gololesege mo tshotlegong e ba mo go yone, mme re solohele gore ngwaga oo tlang wa 2009, o tla ba tlela ka boeteledipele jo bo botoka jo bo ka ba ntshang mo bothateng jo ba mo go jone.

17. Ke hetsa ka go boa ke lo eleletsa boitumelo jwa botsalo jwa Morena le ngwaga o mo namagadi wa 2009. A re kopeng masego a pula mo Modimong. PULA

Keynote Address by H.H. The Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, Lt. General Mompati S. Merafhe, MP, at the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund

source: Republic of Botswana (16/12/08): TAUTONA TIMES no 41 of 2008
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President "Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline"


B1) 15/12/08: KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY HIS HONOUR THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA, LT. GENERAL MOMPATI S. MERAFHE, MP, AT THE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT FUND - 21st ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, MAHALAPYE

[Salutation}...Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning to you all.

1. Ke a lo dumedisa! This important occasion is yet another milestone in a series of activities to mark the MVA Fund's Twenty First Anniversary celebrations. Your marathon of activities in many areas of this country during the last few months which is being concluded here in Mahalapye this morning is consistent with your initiative of "Taking the Fund to the Community". I am therefore elated to be with you today.

2. Ladies and Gentlemen, the MVA Fund's twenty first anniversary celebrations are not only aimed at increasing public awareness about the services offered by the Fund, but are also intended to promote road safety. In this context, we truly appreciate your presence here today, and hope that you will in turn assist the Fund to reach out to those who could not make it to this gathering by passing on the message you will receive today.

3. Bagaetsho, in August last year, Parliament passed the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund Act of 2007, which came into effect this year, on 1st August 2008. This New Act amended some of the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund Act of 1998, which the public felt were too restrictive and made it impossible for the Fund to assist the majority of those affected by road accidents. The most significant of these concerns was the fact that nearly 75% of those affected by road accidents could not qualify for assistance as the Fund relied heavily on negligence as the basis for the determination of liability. Consequently, the Fund was inundated with requests from the public to consider reviewing the MVA Fund Act of 1998. Consultations with key stakeholders culminated in Parliament passing the new MVA Fund Act of 2007.

4. Bagaetsho, the MVA Fund is being financed through fuel levy, which currently stands at 9.5 thebe per litre of fuel. This levy has not been reviewed for more than 7 years despite inflationary pressures and the introduction of the new compensation system. Let me however warn that should road accidents continue to increase, the Government may have to review the fuel levy to ensure that the Fund sustains itself.

5. Ladies and Gentlemen, when all is said and done, road safety is key to the sustenance of the Fund and overall development of our economy. It is a matter of serious disquiet that road accidents are the second highest cause of death after HIV/AIDS in our country. Despite the continuing efforts of Government and other key stakeholders to address the challenges posed by the carnage on our roads, the mortality rate and attendant injuries to road users remain high.

6. Director of Ceremonies, official statistics on road accidents indicate that for the past five years, i.e. from 2003 to 2007, we lost a total of 2 465(two thousand five hundred and sixty five) people. This translates to approximately 500 (five hundred) people killed per annum. In 2007 alone a total of 497 fatalities were recorded, an increase of 68 from 2006. By the end of October 2008, a total of 351 had died from 289 fatal accidents. By all accounts these are huge figures for Botswana's population of less than 2 million.

7. I am embarrassed and sad to say that No. 2 Police District, in which Mahalapye falls, has been leading in the number of road fatalities in the country since 2004. The boundaries of this Police District include Dibete in the south, Topisi in the north, Tswapong area in the east and all areas to the west of Serowe village. The bulk of these fatalities occurred along the A1 highway which passes through this very same village. This therefore poses a big challenge to us all residents of this Police District to ensure that this sorry situation is reversed once and for all.

8. It should be clear to all that entire road accidents are a serious draw back to national development efforts. They cause untold misery as well as social and economic despondency in many families and communities. The country continues to lose productive people in their prime years.

9. In addition, the cost of medical care, property damage and other costs associated with road carnage are very high. These problems cannot be the concern of Government alone. They should be a serious concern to us all; families, communities, road users and indeed the Fund as they negatively impact on its financial sustainability.

10. Ladies and Gentlemen, the new MVA Fund Act mandates the Fund to participate in road safety campaigns so that along with other agencies, it can contribute meaningfully to the promotion of road safety in our country. It is therefore no accident that the sub-theme for this event is "RE MMOGO MO IPABALELONG TSELENG".

11. The theme is quite appealing and resonates well with the National Vision 2016 aspirations of "A SAFE AND SECURE NATION". I understand that the Fund intends to develop a detailed Road Safety Strategy which seeks to strengthen its collaboration with other agencies by supporting their road safety related initiatives. To this end, the MVA Fund has established an Accident and Injury Prevention Department; whose primary mandate is to educate the public on road safety and the existence of the MVA Fund.

12. We remain optimistic that the MVA Fund along with other players will change the road safety landscape in our country for the better. This however, can only be achieved if we (the public) also commit to changing our behaviour by simply obeying road traffic laws, avoiding drinking and driving, observing speed limits, ensuring that we have valid driver's licences and being courteous to other road users.

13. Before I conclude let me inform you that Government is reviewing the Road Traffic Act. Key amongst the envisaged changes are:

* Introduction of stiffer penalties on offending road users;
* Provision for installation of detecting devices on our roads to improve detection of traffic offences;
* Introduction of the demerit system; and
* Flagging of vehicles that have pending matters with the Botswana Police Service.

14. These efforts reflect our commitment and seriousness to reduce the rate of road accidents in our country.

15. In conclusion I would like to express my appreciation to the MVA Fund for this deliberate decision to reach out to the public through its 21st Anniversary Celebrations. I am convinced that from Charleshill to Palapye, Letlhakeng to Maun, and Machaneng to Kang, the visibility of MVA's foot prints is indisputable and the message is loud and clear that Road Safety is key to Prosperity for all in 2016!

16. On that note I wish the MVA Fund a Happy 21st Anniversary and declare the Motor Vehicle Accident 21st Anniversary Celebrations officially launched. Re a leboga Bagaetsho. Pula!!