Masunga — The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture is determined to ensure Batswana preserve their culture, minister Gladys Kokorwe has said.

Kokorwe was speaking at a colourful National Culture Day held at Masunga Sports Complex on June 6 under the theme "Culture is my business"."The ministry will continue to give prominence to the promotion and preservation of our culture and the development of the arts," she said.

She stated that the ministry recognises the valuable role that culture plays in fostering a strong sense of national identity, pride and unity. At a colourful event graced by different artists, some of them from Zimbabwe, Kokorwe said that the ministry has made a firm commitment to ensure that the national culture day is commemorated annually. "We rotate this event among districts as a sensitization strategy to ensure that the celebrations of our culture become a key activity for every district," stated Kokorwe.

In the past three years the event has been held in Serowe, Kanye and Shakawe. The minister further stated that mainstreaming culture in all sectors will go a long way to bestow a sense of self-identity, dignity and self-esteem upon the people of Botswana.

"We need to individually and collectively reflect on how culture affects other sectors of the economy such as education, agriculture, tourism, business and the environment." She added that the unique and diverse cultures of this country, the languages and cultural expressions determine our wordly outlook and the way people relate to their immediate surroundings, the compatriots and foreigners. Kokorwe said that the theme attaches great importance to the responsibility of every citizen, young and old, to promote the diverse cultures in all spheres of human endeavour. "We should have a deep appreciation of our different languages, dress codes, cuisine, social values and traditions in promoting and preserving culture," she added.

The minister further urged Batswana to take responsibility as far as culture is concerned. "This responsibility should be undertaken by everyone of us because failure to do so will impact negatively on our quest to promote unity in diversity among the people of our beloved country," she said.