Tumelo Setshogo
10 March 2008
Gaborone — President Festus Mogae will be the chief walker when the Botswana Red Cross Society (BRCS) organises a 40km-sponsored walk on March 15. BRCS hopes to raise about P1million essentially for its outreach programme.
"As it is our mandate to reach each and every corner of the country, we are raising these funds for this purpose,"BRCS president, Nomsa Mbere, said at a recent press conference, adding that some of the money would be donated to the Mogae Foundation, which is to be set up when he retires at the end of this month. Kabelano Trust has been tasked to help form the foundation.
Mbere said they have decided to invite the president as another way of bidding him farewell. "We would like him also to help us tap sponsors to raise the amount we want," said Mbere. BRCS vice president, Brigadier George Tlhalerwa explained that they want the event to be part of Mogae's enduring legacy. Four groups will take part in the walk. "There will be a group from Phakalane, Tlokweng, Mogoditshane and Mokolodi and all will meet in the new Gaborone Central Business Development (CBD) at the Dikgosi statue," said Tlhalerwa.
He said Pula Holdings' executive chairman, Kagiso Mmusi, has agreed to work with the BRCS to raise part of the funds. He said they approached Mmusi at the beginning of the year to join hands in a two-pronged "initiative that aims to raise P1 million for the charitable organisation while endorsing Mogae's legacy as a pioneer of compassionate causes".The partners see the initiative, according to Tlhalerwa, as a fitting farewell to a hard working president retiring after nearly a decade in office. Mmusi's role in the partnership is to lobby the private sector to support the 'President's Walk' and show commitment to social issues by pledging funds to meet the target. For his part, the Pula Holdings chief said already some private and para-statal organisations approached have continued to pledge substantial amounts. "So far nearly half-a-million Pula has been pledged and a number of organisations are still to respond," Mmusi said. Meanwhile, BRCS has pleaded with members of the public "to contribute something" towards the project.
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