GC youths embark on historic GBIMC

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Thursday June 27, 2013 00:00

The intercessory walk initiative, birthed in New York City four years ago, is expected to gather hundreds of young people from every corner of Gaborone on Sir Seretse Khama Day.Monrovia, Liberia is the only African city to have done the walk last year in April.  The walk was started in 2009 by an American school principal Daniel Sanabria and his youth group in response to an atheist advertisement.Chairman of the organisation behind the walk, Unashamed Movement, Tshenolo Palai explained how the initiative was birthed.

'In October of 2009, some youths in America saw an atheist advertisement campaign in their subway system which stated, 'A Million New Yorkers Are Good Without God.  Are You?'  They were so stirred up by this, that they went to their Youth Pastor who then went to his network of youth leaders to ask what had to be done. They prayed and decided to take action,' Palai told Showbiz.

On Monday, local Christian churches, groups and individuals converge at the three chiefs' monument at 06.45am to declare their faith and pray for the city. From the popular monument, the group heads towards the Office of the President, then past the parliament. They will then pass through Main Mall, University of Botswana and the Botanical Gardens to the Gaborone Club.They wrap up the walk with a worship concert. X-Caliber and A2J will perform at the concert.

Youthful rapper, Patrick Kabamba, said he was hoping to see thousands of youths participate in the walk.'We are hoping to see over a thousand young Batswana, different churches and different people. We will pray through parliament, pray for the leadership, through the UB.  We want to see the reverence of God in this city,' Kabamba said.Palai added: 'We want to be a spiritual and moral catalyst because we are tired of seeing our brothers and sisters go down because of drugs, alcoholism and other social ills.'

He said the decision to start off from three chiefs' monument is because of the spiritual heritage they left behind.It is believed Chief Sebele I of the Bakwena was the first chief to invite David Livingstone to the country.Chief Khama III of the Bangwato is said to be the first Motswana to be baptised and get married in holy matrimony.The two, together with Chief Bathoen I of the Bangwaketse, travelled to London in November 1895 to petition Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, under the guidance of missionaries.

Palai also said: 'The first mayor of Gaborone was a missionary and we believe God has always been here.'Over 50 cities worldwide have embarked on this walk.The group has been granted permission by the city council and has the backing of the vision 2016 council. Tonota South legislator, Pono Moatlhodi and Minister of Transport and Communications Nonofo Molefhi will address the youths at the end of the walk.