Preparations for 50 years anniversary on
Kgomotso Molelekeng | Tuesday March 11, 2014 15:04
Briefing the media yesterday, coordinator of BOT 50, Dineo Phuti mentioned that this year’s celebrations will be under the theme ‘Putting Botswana first’.
She added that the activities they will be doing this year will be derived from the country’s long-term pillars of Vision 2016.
“We have set goals to have prosperity for all when the country turns 50 years. Independence is for every Motswana regardless of where they will be or which part of the country they will be based at so as a result I am urging people to come together to tell Botswana’s story from 1966 until now,” she said.
She mentioned that there would be a series of activities that will look at the journey of the country and how far the nation has come.
“We are currently trying to create a hype all over the world not just in our country so that our neighbours can also feel the excitement that Batswana will be feeling as the country turns 50. We want Botswana to be a destination for everyone around the world but mostly for everyone all over to aspire to be here. This is the year we are striving to put our country on world maps as a number one country,” she said.
Deputy co-odinator, Boipelo Gaothusi added that this year’s pre-independence activities will include the launch of the hoisting of the Botswana flag to mark the countdown to the actual day in 2016. There will also be the hoisting of the flag in all districts and towers around the country. He said between April and June, they will also be launching the BOT 50 logo, theme song and website.
“Artists have brought in different unique submissions for the song, which they feel will sum up what our country is all about, from this we will be choosing a song that will remind us about independence in the future. We have thus far had 176 entries for the logo designs and this shows the spirit of togetherness among Batswana and how excited they already are about the event,” he said.
He said that there would also be public debates on radio and television stations. This he said will be a way of encouraging dialogue among people and this way they will be able to hear what people want to see happening at the actual event. He said, “We will be gathering different opinions and suggestion from the public,”
He further explained that they have engaged all 32 districts to take part in the pre-preparation of the independence. “These build up activities will begin in August and they will be similar activities that will happen in Gaborone. The first launch of the festivals will be in Mahalapye on the 9th where they will be performances and exhibitions on the day,” he said.
Other pre-independence celebrations’ activities that will take place include fashion shows, films, DJ festivals, traditional song and dance, drama, choral music competitions, church choirs, callisthenics training, literature and debates competitions, research and documentary competitions.
The main Independence Day activities willl include Botswana Defence Force (BDF) parades, Botswana Police Service band display, Botswana Prisons Service band display, Callisthenics, Independence contemporary music legends festival, honours and awards lunch, float procession and Independence football match.