10 Nov 2019

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has been praised for his unwavering support to charity work by the Botswana Defence Force (BDF).

Speaking during the 29th presentation of the BDF bands in concert style at the SSKB auditorium in Mogoditshane on November 9, Commander of the BDF Lt Gen Placid Segokgo said the BDF was grateful to President Masisi’s support as it strives to give back to those in need.

He said over the past years, the organisation had collected P6 million in donations.

Lt Gen. Segokgo said the gesture by President Masisi, who is also BDF Commander-in-chief, was in a way key to the delivery of the mandate of BDF corporate social responsibility programme.

At this year’s event, Dr Masisi pledged P25 000 towards the initiative.

Nineteen beneficiaries are lined up to benefit from this year’s funds, which stand at P414 000. Four organisation from Gaborone and the surrounding villages were awarded their share on Friday evening.

Team Albinism from Princess Marina Hospital, Botswana Red Cross Society, Molepolole Foster Care project and the Moshupa Team club each received P20 000.

Meanwhile, this year’s series of concerts commenced at the SSKB hall with yet another colourful offering from the men and women in uniform.

Perhaps the highlight of the night was when the Lt Gen. Segokgo surprisingly joined the traditional dance troupe and played the segaba instrument before proceeding to show his phathisi skills.

Some of the interesting features of the concert included the African rhythms percussions ensemble, showcasing the rich historical background of the African drum. The four strings acoustic guitar impressed the audience with cover songs renditions of mogatsa radichelete by Lepodisi Sekoboane and Thabeng tsa Molepolole by the late Johnny Kobedi.

KTM choir joined members of the BDF on stage for the heartwarming Accapella sessions belting out their popular song Botswana and Morweetsana by Kabelo Tiro fondly known as Scavenger in music circles.

The crowd’s favourite, the dance band ensemble closed the programme with some household hits such as Nata Carpricorn’s bona lenyalo and Johnny Mokhali’s lerato la batho ba babedi. ENDS