Africa-Press – Botswana. President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has called for resuscitation of structures that were put in place to effectively monitor the implementation of the recommendations to address the declining societal moral values.
President Masisi was addressing a one-day interactive session in Tlokweng, where he met with leaders of religious groups to engage in high level discussions with a view to devise ways and means to revive the national social value system.
In 2008 government commissioned a Joint Advisory Committee comprising members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi and representatives of the Botswana Council of Churches (BCC) to investigate the cause of the decline in moral values that was evident in the society and to ultimately devise strategies to address the challenge.
President Masisi said the committee, which was led by Kgosi Puso Gaborone of Batlokwa and Chairman of Ntlo ya Dikgosi produced a report with recommendations, some of which were approved by Cabinet in 2009.
“The implementation of the approved recommendations has since become a challenge. I will ,therefore, like to urge the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs to resuscitate the structures they had put in place in order to effectively monitor implementation of the approved recommendations,” he said.
He said the decline in moral values continue to manifest through increasing trends in incidents of passion killings, rape, domestic violence, excessive alcohol consumption, drug and substance abuse, domestic violence and youth indiscipline.
“This untenable situation does not only rob our nation of a healthy and productive workforce, but also tarnishes the image of Botswana and diminishes our dignity. I would like to implore the religious leadership to help government in dealing with these daunting challenges,” he added.
He said faith-based organisations continue to play a significant role in the socio-economic development of the country including nation building.
President Masisi said the interactive session was an initiative meant to revive the spirit of nation building and participation in a meaningful way towards a prosperous Botswana with the religious denominations playing a supportive role.
“As Government, we are deeply concerned by the continuing erosion of our social values, particularly the moral degradation.
“We cannot fight the battle alone and expect to win. It requires a collaborative effort with yourselves, the religious organisations and other key players in society such as the private sector, the traditional and other community leaders,” he said.
President Masisi said some of the policy initiatives that government had put in place to deal with societal challenges were the Constitutional Review, upgrading of districts, and the police Safer City initiative.
For her part Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Ms Annah Mokgethi applauded the critical role of faith-based organisations in the socio-economic development of the country.
Ms Mokgethi said the church in all its manifestations was instrumental in building cohesion in communities. She said government in its continuing efforts to deepen national consultations held the session to close the gap of an eroding society and moral degradation.
Minister Mokgethi said it was important to engage in fruitful dialogue and determine the root cause of the many social ills. She urged the church to sensitise the communities on good moral values.
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