Africa-Press – Botswana. The 2023 Mascom Batanani Charity Walk fifth edition, which focused on raising awareness about drugs and substance abuse, was held amid pomp and fanfare in Francistown on Saturday.
Chief Walker at the event themed; Drugs and Substance Abuse, First Lady Neo Masisi, who participated in the 10km category, stated that this year’s walk went beyond just physical fitness.
“This year’s walk focused on sensitising and raising awareness about drug abuse that is a challenge and threat to our children’s future,” Ms Masisi said.
Known for her disdain for drugs and substance abuse, the First Lady made a clarion call to the participants at this year’s walk to take it upon themselves and ensure that the message against the use of drugs went beyond the confines of the city of Francistown, which had become the home to the Batanani Charity Walk.
“The war against drug abuse requires courage and bravery.
It requires compassion for others to come out and say ‘I too want to be a champion in the fight against drugs’,” she said, adding that acceding to the invitation by Mascom was her little way of throwing her weight behind efforts to fight the phenomenon.
Waging the war against drugs, she said, could be won through synergies from all stakeholders that included individual Batswana.
She said the walk’s theme resonated well with the idea to oust drugs from society and to come up with solutions towards a drug-free community, something she underscored was possible.
“Let us keep reflecting on the purpose of this event, which is to unite the general public and make them appreciate other pressing issues affecting our society that we care about. Let us stand up and fight illicit drugs as individuals, families and communities.
Let us act now and save our children, our youth and the whole generation.”
The government, she said, had made great strides in an endeavour to nip in the bud, drugs and substance abuse through numerous interventions including the newly established drug agency namely the Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA)whose primary focus is to enhance Botswana’s crime prevention framework, particularly in relation to drug trafficking.
She called on Batswana to continue supporting efforts such as Mascom Batanani Charity Walk, whose proceeds are channelled towards priority areas such as the fight against drugs.
The 2023 Batanani Charity Walk proceeds will be given to Botswana Substance Abuse Support Network (BOSASNet), which exists to provide education, prevention and rehabilitation services for people suffering from or affected substance use and addiction.
A recovering drug addict, Kgosi Kgosidintsi, popularly known as DollarMac on the airwaves, said, when sharing his drugs and substance abuse story, “We need to remind each other that drugs are not good.
Gone are the days when smoking and drinking were deemed cool.
The cool people are now those people who take care of their bodies and promote healthy living by engaging in things such as exercise,” he said.
He echoed the First Lady’s sentiments that Batswana must take it upon themselves to individually fight the use of drugs and stop apportioning blame on others or the government.
Mascom Wireless CEO, Ms Dzene Makhwade-Seboni said other than being a business entity, Mascom existed to make a positive impact in Botswana through such endeavours as the Batanani Charity Walk.
“Since inception in 2019, the Mascom Batanani Charity Walk has donated proceeds from the walk towards addressing and sensitising the nation on causes such as gender-based violence, mental health and protection of the children,” she said, announcing BOSASnet as this year’s beneficiary walk.
She thus called for unity amongst Batswana, which she said was needed to create a safe and nurturing environment for the youth.
The Major of the city of Francistown, Mr Godisang Radisigo, in his thanksgiving note, said the First Lady’s initiative in the fight against drugs referred to as Motsadi Tsiboga remained a priority agenda for the city and that sooner than later, the city leadership would engage the same with a view to addressing substance abuse, which was destroying many lives.
He said as much as Francistown was strategically positioned to lure businesses and positively help grow the country’s gross domestic product, there was also the proliferation of drugs, which needed to be dealt away with once and for all.
“Keletso ya rona ke gore re tsene kwa makeishaneng a rona, kwa re itseng gore bothata bo teng. Jaanong re tlaa lwa ka sengwe le sengwe go lwa ntwa e.”
Radisigo gave Mascom and charity walk fanatics a pat on the back for their commitment towards the city since the inception of the Batanani Charity Walk.
The Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Tumiso Rakgare, Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao, and Former mayor of Francistown, Ms Sylvia Muzila graced the fun-filled day.
Batanani Charity Walk champion and star athlete, Mr Isaac Makwala also took part in the annual walk.
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