Africa-Press – Botswana. President Duma Boko says he has no regrets about declaring a public holiday last month in honour of Botswana’s historic 4x400m relay triumph in Tokyo, Japan recently.
The country brought home two gold medals and a bronze, finishing in fifth spot in the 2025 World Athletics Championships. The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) had sent a team of 12 athletes. In honouring the champions, Boko declared September 29 a public holiday. The move by the President was met with resistance from the employer body, Business Botswana, whose officials argued it would affect the already ailing economy. The organisation estimated that over P500 million would be lost due to the unplanned holiday. However, when welcoming the athletes at a dinner Boko was steadfast that he made the right call. “I hear whimpering of protest around it which is wickedness, I think it is,” he said.
“We want to celebrate these heroes for one day and dedicate just a day to them for what they have achieved for the country.” The President suggested that the comments were merely speculative and did not conform to any standards of research. “You are telling me that the country is going to lose P500 million, first you are not telling the truth. Your proposition is actually speculative, but even assuming it is true, do you realise the countervailing benefits,” he said. “We recognise these athletes and there is no regret about the 29th of September, none whatsoever!! In fact I am fortified that in my belief it was the correct decision to make.” He advised the athletes to hold their heads high above the waters and not for one moment think they made the country lose millions through the holiday. “Don’t go around getting people thinking the country lost money. No, you brought the country a lot of money and the country stands to benefit immensely from what you did,” Boko said.
The President further berated the negative comments in social media that are mostly aimed at Letsile Tebogo who had a disappointing World Athletics Championship compared to his first in Budapest 2023. He appealed to the public to rather encourage the athletes and be there for them even in tough times as tough times don’t last.
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