The PCH is one of the five medals granted by the President of the republic to excelling individuals. The last time an opposition figure was given a presidential award, controversy erupted after the late Dr Kenneth Koma rebuffed former president Festus Mogae's gesture. This time, Molapisi accepted the award but sent his daughter to receive it on his behalf.
Former MP, Robert Molefhabangwe, said it is normal for the president to recognise citizens who have contributed to the development of the country and thus people from diverse spectrums deserve to be awarded. "We should not politicise the awarding of medals because they come at a time when families and communities of the respective recipients become proud of the recipient's efforts and contribution to the development of the country, and it forms part of our societal democratic transition and processes," said Molefhabangwe, a former opposition stalwart who has since defected to the ruling party. Other recipients of the awards on Monday were Reverend Samuel Makgaola, former Botswana Defence Force commander Tebogo Masire, former police commissioner Thebeyame Tsimako, Professor Thapelo Otlogetswe of the University of Botswana, Christopher Molopo a statistician and former NACA coordinator, athletes Amantle Montsho and Nigel Amos. Makgaola, Tsimako and Masire were given the Presidential Order of Honour (POH) award. Tsimako was said to be instrumental in the formation of the police clusters and volunteers and establishment of the police Air Wing. Linguistics professor, Otlogetswe got POH for efficient and devoted service to the country and his contribution in engineering the translation of Goggle Search Engine to Setswana.
