Africa-Press – Botswana. Many gathered at various their Dikgotla to listen, watch President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi national speech which was live streamed.
In Maun Esther Mmolai reports that Batawana have described the National Mindset Change campaign as as a brilliant idea which called for every individual to introspect and embrace change.
The campaign , they said emphasised the need to change attitude towards work, and work faster, smarter and efficiently to improve service delivery.
“This campaign challenges all of us to introspect and change attitudes and come up with ways that will drive transformation,” said Kgosi Oateng Setlhodi of Chanoga at Batawana main kgotla iyesterday.
The campaign, he said aimed to cultivate a high performance culture whereby people worked hard, timeously with respect.
Kgosi Sethodi acknowledged that the initiative encouraged Batswana to overcome challenges they were faced with in everything they do to contribute towards the country’s aspiration of achieving vision 2036 and attaining the upper income status.
He said Ngamiland region was rich in natural resources and as a result communities had to come up with innovative ideas and tap on indentified opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
The region, he said also prided itself with rich diverse cultures which they could also utilise and benefit from.
Kgosi Sethodi encouraged the community to stop undermining themselves and change the way tof doing things..
“If you want to achieve success in life, it is critical to change your mindset and adopt a winning attitude,” he quipped.
“This campaign should be an eye opener to all of us to realize available opportunities that could bring positive change in our lives,” he further noted.
A youth representative, Mr Thato Molosi also appreciated the campaign saying it was an eye opener even though change was not an easy thing.
On the other hand, he said they could not go far as young people in life if they did not embrace change.
He wished fellow youth could take the campaign seriously saying it could motivate them to see things differently adding that changing their mindset could be the key to unlocking their hidden potential.
Business representative, Ms Christinah Leshego said the campaign was a welcome development hoping that it would challenge entrepreneurs to change the way of doing business.
He said some business were not maturing because of owners’ attitudes and their way of thinking.
He believed that mindset concept would help them to open themselves to new opportunities and eventually become more successful in their businesses.
Ms Leshego who is also North West regional chairperson of Women in Business Association (WIBA) said the association had been making efforts to motivate entrepreneurs to explore technology and leverage on availed opportunities but that was not happening because of fear of the unknown.
Kgosing area councillor, Mr Tswelelo Sebati said as political leaders, they were concerned with poor service delivery and delay in project implementation saying the concept would motivate public servants to improve service delivery.
He acknowledged that people were slowly losing confidence in public service performance but stressed that as leaders they were making efforts to encourage public servants to improve efficiency in whatever they were doing for the benefit of the community.
In Francistown Mooketsi Mojalemotho reports that six panellists who dissected the launch in the city of Francistown hailed the premier of the campaign saying it was a good step for the nation to introspect and chart the right trajectory if it wanted to attain Vision 2036.
Kgosi Pogisego Mosarwe of Monarch in Francistown said in as much as the noble cause by the government was welcomed, vices such as the use of drugs especially by young people disprove the move.
“Bana bangwe ba setse ba senyegile ditlhaloganyo ke tiriso ya ditagi,”he said making a clarion call on all and sundry to join hands and oust drugs from the society.
Mr Morulaganyi Mothowabarwa also shared Kgosi Mosarwe’s sentiments and challenged the nation to ward off the dependency syndrome which he said worked against the principle of Ipelegeng that Batswana were known for.
A youth leader, Ms Phindile Ketlogetswe stated that true change started with an individual for it to impact society.
She said also that it was an appropriate time for the nation to start working as a unit and the women folk to rise and eke a living for themselves and their families and stop total dependence on their male counterparts; something she attributed to the so-called passion killings that have gripped the nation.
Pastor Mbako Nfila called on Botswana to go back to the cross-roads and trust God whom he said remained the bedrock of the nation.
The church he said remained the only platform through which the morale fabric of a society was weaved.
Ms Florence Moses who spoke on behalf of Women implored parents to teach their children good morals and instil in them traits of hard work from a young age. She said ‘charity begins at home.’
A person living with disability, Ms Loeto Basupi said that as much as they welcomed the premier of the campaign PLWD’s were yet to be embraced by the society. She cited for instance that majority of government buildings did not have ramps for easy access.
Meanwhile the community in Gumare concurred that unity was instrumental to achieve mindset change.
Kgosi Moitshepi Molelwa of Gumare said there was need to retrace cultural norms which were based on unity in the formative years of their village.
“Nowadays there is no proper unity between Bogosi and public officers which is a hindrance to progress,” he said.
Kgosi Molelwa observed that change started at individual level before community and national level.
Nominated councilor, Ms Keokeditswe Rangosa said Batswana should be self-reliant and become entrepreneurs of repute who could employ themselves and others.
She also said it was high time women believed in themselves that they could attain any leadership role.
The business community representative in Gumare, Mr Mosenodi Baagetswekae was of the view that to realise change in the economy from middle to high income there was need for those in leadership positions to be transparent and realistic.
Mr Baagatswekae said business people should respect time and avoid procrastination at all costs in resonance with mindset change.
Unity, he said was of significance for all business people, community and the nation as a whole to be productive.
Mr Baagetswekae observed that business community should embrace use of technology to improve their businesses and move the country forward.
A youth representative Mr Moleboge Makopo said the use of technology and consultations by the government were a positive development for change.
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