Batswana and the private sector have been urged to continue supporting charities to assist government in its mandate of restoring dignity to the vulnerable and the poor, President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama has said. 

President Khama said during the annual Lady Khama Charitable Trust family fun day in Gaborone on Saturday that the positive response received from the private sector and members of the public was encouraging. The President said the event was a success in comparison to previous events, saying it would enable the trust to deliver on its mandate. 

Chairperson of the trust, Mr Dale Te Haar said the purpose of the event was to raise funds for the trust, which assisted vulnerable women and children. He stated that they raised P1.5 million in 2012 and were hoping to raise P1 million or more in 2013. 

Mr Te Haar noted that since the trust’s inception, they had managed to raise P5.5 million and supported 25 charities such as SOS Children’s Village, Botswana Council of Women and Bana ba Metsi, among others.

He indicated that they had a variety of activities which also raised money for the event citing the Ghanzi horse race where people ride to Gaborone for three weeks in stages, a seven kilometre race in Gaborone, Presidential competitions, farmer’s markets, play station centre and wine tasting.

Mr Te Haar said at the fun day, they raised funds through gate takings and stall fees. Some of the stalls donated their proceeds to the trust whilst the Cricket Club sold drinks as part of the fund raising activity. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Christiaan De Graaff, who participated in the horse race from Ghanzi, said they had contributed by raising funds for the trust for three years. 

He noted that they organised a 700 kilometre endurance horse race ending in Gaborone to raise funds for the trust with the sole purpose of assisting vulnerable women and children  He noted that PPC was the main sponsor of the race. 

The fun day consisted of a variety of activities including music by Botswana Defence Force band, football games, bicycle relay, a relay race, tug of war and obstacles among others.  President Khama, who went by the name Super, participated in a number of sporting activities such as football and emerged the top goal scorer and his bicycle relay team snatched position