Africa-Press – Botswana. First Lady Ms Neo Masisi has encouraged communities to play a role in celebrating children to help shape their path as leaders of today.
Speaking during the Warm Children’s Hearts, a China-Africa Joint Initiative at Tshwaragano Primary School in Gaborone on Friday, Ms Masisi noted the importance of allowing children to express themselves to foster their development and confidence.
She said government was committed to protecting the rights of children and equally urged learners to give their studies attention as well as to follow the right path in life.
The event marked the 60th anniversary of the commitment by the Chinese government to send medical teams to Africa.
In recognition of the milestone, pupils from three primary schools of Tshwaragano, Bontleng and Therisano received ‘Warm Heart Packages’ from the Chinese Embassy and China medical team in Botswana to help them develop healthy habits.
Ms Masisi said Botswana had been a beneficiary of the China medical team, which had immensely contributed to the health sector over the years by adding value to the health outcomes of Botswana.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical teams also proved to be a key resource at a time when our resources were stretched,” she noted.
China ambassador to Botswana Mr Wang Xuefeng said the Chinese medical team was one of the longest-running and most effective health cooperation projects between the two countries.
“Over the past four decades, a total of 16 batches of more than 500 Chinese medical members have come to Botswana to deliver quality medical services and help strengthen local medical specialities,” Ambassador Wang noted.
Mr Wang said during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 16th Chinese medical team was on the frontline against the virus together with their Botswana counterparts.
He added that Botswana and China had remained close partners and that his government had always followed the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests and the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith.
“The Chinese Embassy will follow the consensus reached by President of the Peoples Republic of China Mr Xi Jinping and President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi to strengthen cooperation with Botswana for the development of our bilateral relations and the benefits of our people,” Mr Wang said.
He also indicated that the Chinese Embassy was ready to support the First Lady’s initiatives in empowering women, children and the underprivileged to make more contributions to the well-being of Batswana.
For his part Member of Parliament for Gaborone South, Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy and Ms Masisi for honouring his constituency with such a gesture.
“I believe that the visit by our First Lady and the Ambassador of China will inspire learners to do exceptionally well in their final examinations,” Mr Mthimkhulu said.
He further said the visit would impact the people of Old Naledi with a sense of hope to do better in life, adding that the area was a low income one with high unemployment.
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