Mr and Miss Faithfulness crowned

Shingirai Madondo | Wednesday February 19, 2014 16:50

 

The 22-year-old Keboetetse of Maboane village in the Kweneng area and Keatswitswe, 25, from Kumakwane village managed to outshine 10 other contesting couples drawn from different tertiary schools in Francistown.

The couple walked away with P1,000 as part of their winning prize. First runner-up couple of Gorata Johannes, 20 and 21-year-old Darley Mpofu walked away with P900 and second runner-up couple of Keotshepile Makuku, 20, and Oagile Keitsweditse, 24, received P800.

Both first and second runner-up couples are from Academy of Business Management (ABM) University College here in Francistown.

It was clear that Keboetetse and Keatswitswe would win the title.  The couple was the crowd’s favourite, as several people in the crowd – mainly tertiary students – continuously shouted out the couple’s names and screamed whenever they got on the stage.

Oteng Kebitseope, the FCE Campus Health Coordinator for the tertiary institution’s HIV/AIDS Prevention and Health Programme, said the event is part of government’s efforts to promote faithfulness among tertiary-going students. 

Kebitseope said sexual irresponsibility is rife among tertiary students.  She said multiple concurrent partnerships are high in tertiary schools and an event like last Friday’s has the potential to change student behaviour.

“We are emphasising on abstinence. But for those who cannot abstain, correct and consistent use of the condom is encouraged,” said Kebitseope. She added that most of the contestants are peer educators at their different institutions. 

Kebitseope said that the idea is to ensure that peer educators walk the talk they preach to other students at school of faithfulness and correct as well as consistent use of the condom.  For his part, Keatswitswe said tertiary students are as good as transmitting vessels of the pandemic HIV/AIDS in Botswana.  “It is upon us their peers to teach and disseminate information about the dangers of being reckless,” said a worried Mr Faithfulness.

Keboetetse said students must understand that there are certain reasons why they should wait. She said tertiary students must focus on reading and studying. 

“They should not be victims of peer pressure. Students should not just follow what others are doing. We want principled men and women in our tertiary schools,” she said.