Introspect on holiday dangers, then bon voyage!
Mmegi Editor | Friday July 12, 2019 11:45
The President’s Day holidays are here and most people will be taking long trips to numerous destinations but it is always to advisable to be safe all the time. No one wants to return from the holidays feeling cheated, having had a less than perfect time.
The A1 road will be busy like always, so people should identify the risks involved in travelling and prepare thoroughly for their holiday and stay safe while away. Make sure your vehicles are road worthy and most importantly drive safely. Consider leaving earlier or later to avoid heavy traffic. Botswana Railways has availed the passenger train for those who hate traffic congestion on the road. Buy that train ticket, it leaves tonight at 7pm in Gaborone and it will make stops along the way in places such as Palapye, Mahalapye, Serule, and Francistown. The train will make a return trip on Monday so another reason not to be worried.
As we head to the holidays we often forget to make sure that our homes and valuables are safe from burglary or theft while on holiday. Take that TV set with you if that’s possible and never forget that small window you left open. Don’t leave any keys hidden under a brick or doormat because thieves will capitalise on those obvious spots.
When all of the safety measures are in place a holiday is constantly a good time to have fun and loosen up. Visit your relatives and old friends to catch up. You are returning to your base after some few days so use all the little time you have. Some people may confuse having a good time for recklessness but the two don’t mix. Several events and places will offer us the lala vuka or 6am-6pm experiences but that doesn’t translate to binge drinking and irresponsibility.
The police don’t have to push people to behave properly all the time but sometimes it’s really up to us as citizens of this country. For most people these holidays come during a tough time in terms of financials but it is never an excuse to create unnecessary debts in the act of impressing our friends and families in the village. From time to time you can just buy a transport fare, go to your home village or even the cattle post, no need to spend on a luxurious holiday when your pockets are not deep enough.
Some will be working and others will not be travelling for the holidays so stay put and enjoy because everyone is a holidaymaker. And hey, this is an important holiday for the arts so many will be competing for coveted prizes at the President’s Day visual and performing arts competitions. Good luck to the participants who will be sweating this holiday and may the best win! Lastly to our readers, be a holidaymaker and never accept anything that’s less than perfect.
Today’s thought
“There’s something about a holiday that isn’t all about how much money you spend.”
– Hilarie Burton