Ookeditse urges Batswana to make exercise daily routine
Pini Bothoko | Wednesday August 26, 2026 06:00
Ookeditse was speaking on Saturday when he officiated the third edition of the Shoshong Annual Aerobics Marathon, held under the theme 'Push Limits, Achieve Greatness'.
He said physical activity was a vital component of disease prevention and health promotion, noting that Botswana, like many other countries, continues to experience an increase in NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and obesity.
“The health of our nation depends not only on the services provided in hospitals and clinics, but also on the choices we make every day,” he said.
Ookeditse encouraged members of the public to take responsibility for their health by exercising regularly, eating healthy, undergoing routine health checks and making responsible lifestyle choices.
He said government and communities should work together to address risk factors associated with ill health, including physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, tobacco use and harmful alcohol consumption.
“We must create supportive environments like this one that make it easier for people to choose healthy lifestyles,” he said.
Furthermore, Ookeditse encouraged families to exercise together, workplaces to introduce wellness programmes, and schools to promote physical education and healthy lifestyles.
He called on communities to create safe spaces where people can walk, exercise and participate in recreational activities regardless of their age, disability, gender, or social status.
Ookeditse said fitness should not be viewed as an activity reserved for special occasions or elite athletes, but should become part of people's everyday lives.
“This is not merely a catchy slogan for the day; it is a call to action for you and me. Every time you wake up early to exercise, every time you choose movement over inactivity, every time you refuse to give up despite fatigue or difficulty, you are pushing beyond your limits,” he said.
He added that greatness could be found in anyone committed to improving their health, including a mother who wakes up early to exercise, an elderly person who remains physically active, and young people who choose fitness over harmful habits.
Ookeditse also commended Sbee's Fitness Centre, a Shoshong-based health and fitness facility established in 2024, for its contribution to promoting wellness in the community. He said the centre had provided residents and surrounding communities with a dedicated space to pursue their health and fitness goals through group fitness classes, personal training, personalised programmes and wellness events.
The marathon attracted fitness clubs and enthusiasts from various parts of Botswana, including Gantsi, Maun, Letlhakane, Orapa, Francistown, Selebi-Phikwe, Gaborone, and Jwaneng, as well as participants from KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.
Ookeditse said the growing participation demonstrated how an initiative that started as a local event had developed into a broader movement bringing communities together across borders.
Reached for an interview on the sidelines of the event, the man behind the Shoshong Annual Aerobics Marathon, fitness instructor and Shoshong native Kabo Sebinyane, said the initiative was born out of his desire to bring health and wellness services closer to people in his home village.
Sebinyane, who has provided health and fitness services across the country, launched the marathon in 2024 to promote healthy living and raise awareness about the prevention of NCDs.
He subsequently established Sbee's Fitness Centre, which provides daily training sessions to residents of Shoshong and surrounding communities.
“The intention is to host this event every August to bring fitness and aerobics enthusiasts together to train and spread the message about healthy living and the importance of training,” Sebinyane said.
He said the event had grown significantly since its inception, attracting participants from different parts of Botswana and beyond.
“We even have a team from KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and participants from other parts of the country,” he said.
Sebinyane said the continued growth of the marathon demonstrated that the community had embraced fitness and wellness, adding that he hoped the event would continue serving as a platform for promoting healthier lifestyles.