17 Nov 2024

  President Advocate Duma Boko has pledged his support to children to ensure that their pleas and future aspirations are delivered.

Interacting with a group of 14 children who were representing Botswana at the World Children’s Day commemoration for the SADC region in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe on Saturday, President Boko appreciated the opportunity for such an interaction and said he was truly humbled by the inspirational remarks shared by the children’s leader.

President Boko said after the address by the children’s leader, Aumakwe Aaron he felt that there was more to look forward to and also the need to work together to ensure that their aspirations were achieved in the shortest possible time.

“We will receive the benefit of your guidance as well, because you will tell us what you experienced, you will suggest to us how to address your issues and you will be there with us as these issues are addressed. That is why we have set up the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education,” he said, explaining that the move to establish the ministry was to identify, know and understand them as well as make them feel recognised.

The best way to look after the children’s welfare was through their input, he said. As such, he invited the student leader to regularly sit him in formal meetings.

“I assure you that I will make time for you. I am truly encouraged and strengthened in my resolve to help you shine,” he said.

President Boko said years ago while he was a law lecturer at the University of Botswana, he had the privilege to lead a team of consultants to undertake a comprehensive review of the country’s legislation and try to bring it into harmony with the Convention of the Rights of the Child, identify gaps and make recommendations to the then Ministry of Local Government.

“I have been involved in trying to change, formulate policies and appropriate approaches that best serve the interests of children,” he said.

President Boko also added that in his own way, he was a champion of children’s rights. 

He said one of the things that he had tried to push for, which was rejected back then, was the abolishing of corporal punishment in schools.

“I faced fears resistant. We marshalled evidence showing that this form of punishment has not worked, in fact it is extremely destructive. Many, whom I thought would support the position that I held did not. I hope we will carry this conversation forward together and make sure that we use other forms of assisting change of behaviour and reinforcing positive behaviour.”

“I am thrilled and encouraged to look at your faces bristling with hope, determination and sheer innocence of children seeking for their country to appreciate them,” he added, assuring the children that there was a lot that they would be doing together with him.

The President stressed the importance of creating a platform that would allow children to be what they wanted to be and promised to do more in guiding them to continue in pursuit of their goals.

“I want to make sure that every school is the most hospitable place that you are comfortable at. At the thought of going to school, one must be filled with joy,” he said, emphasising that a school must be the most welcoming and safest place where children were free to express themselves and develop in the best manner possible.

Responding to the Call-for-Action presentation from the children of Botswana, President Boko commended the children for their eloquence, passion and the astringent clarity they displayed in pronouncing their demands, expectations and pleas about the present and defining a future that was spectacularly different from their current experiences.

The President agreed entirely with what the children had said and made a commitment that their demands and aspirations shall be his to embrace and implement together with them.

“I know you make this demands because you feel that we have fallen short. I pledge to you that we will intensify all efforts to meet and satisfy the demands and expectations that you placed before us,” he promised. ENDS