The Voice (Francistown)
Innocent Tshukudu
15 April 2008
Francistown — School's out and this weekend in Francistown over a thousand teachers will exchange their chalk for takkies.
The town will be abuzz with sporting activity as Botswana Secondary Teachers Union (BOSETU) hosts their counterparts from other SADC countries.
The games will be played under the optimistic theme: "SADC teachers' unity, a sure way to combat the HIV/AIDS scourge", and will include football, netball, volleyball and tug of war. Events will be held at various venues including Mater Spei College and the Francistown Stadium.
Union Vice President Baraedi Lekabe said the idea was initiated last August at a conference in Letlhakane that included the Teacher's Union of Namibia (TUN), Professional Educators' Union (PEU) from South Africa, and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ).
"At this gathering, it was resolved to establish a forum where other unions could be encouraged to join this initiative to explore areas of cooperation. In September, the four unions attended a PEU conference in South Africa where it was agreed that cooperation should be extended by organizing games for teachers to compete in various sporting codes, and Botswana was chosen as the host," he explained.
The visitors, according to BOSETU Publicity Secretary Mogomotsi Motshegwa, will be accommodated at Tonota College of Education (TCE). "We are expecting at least 1 600 delegates from the participating unions. Lesotho are the only union who will not be participating as they are not yet a member, although they are expected to join at this event," he said.
Motshegwa added that the weekend events would include a panel discussion at TCE on Saturday evening under the theme: 'Implications of silent diplomacy on the Zimbabwe crisis.'
Other activities will include a cultural evening where teachers will showcase their various cultural heritages. On the very evening, Saturday, there will also be a gala dinner hosted by BOTUSA at the Marang hotel.
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