Masisi awards servicemen
Pini Bothoko | Monday April 24, 2023 06:00
Masisi awarded the deserving officers at a parade held at the Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB) in Mogoditshane on Wednesday. Three senior officers, Brigadiers Jame Maphanyane, Bruce Thobane and Simon Barwabatsile received Foreign Service Medal (FSM).
This medal is awarded to any member of the BDF for honourable service outside the borders of Botswana on operational deployment, related foreign assignment of collective training for a period not less than two months. In addition, 73 officers and warrant officers received Duty Code Order (DCO) medal which is awarded to members of the administrative and technical staff of the BDF for their devotion to duty.
Masisi further awarded 89 officers of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and above Pearl Jubilee Medal (PJM) which is awarded to any member of the BDF who has completed 30 years of honourable continuous service.
The President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the army further awarded the Thebe Ya Sechaba (TYS) medal to two deceased soldiers, an award which is awarded after death to deceased members of the BDF who lost their lives in the line of duty. These medals are received by their spouses, parents or any nominated member of the family.
The deceased, Lance Corporal Obakeng Tlhaloganyo and Lance Corporal Zikamee Kamai received the TYS awards. Meshack Mokgolele, the uncle to the late Lance Corporal Tlhaloganyo and Zamboriro Kamai, the brother to the late Lance Corporal Zikamee received the awards on their behalf. For his part, the Minister of Defence and Security, Kagiso Mmusi awarded 67 officers Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), which is awarded to commissioned officers who have completed not less than 20 years of continuous service with good conduct in the army.
Furthermore, Mmusi awarded FSM to 67 officers and Warrant Officers. About 179 soldiers were also awarded FSM of which 89 recipients were awarded the medals by the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare awarded while the Permanent Secretary to the President, Emma Peloetletse award it to 90 recipients. A further 240 recipients received the Long Service Order (LSO) medals which was awarded by the Minister of State President, Kabo Morwaeng and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lemogang Kwape.
This medal is awarded to any member of the other ranks within the BDF who has service in the BDF with good conduct for a period of not less than 15 years. Meanwhile, the BDF is yet to announce the date for this year’s BDF Day celebrations which was postponed due to Botswana Golden Grand Prix 2023 to be held next week Saturday.