When accepting the house, Mr Motowane (who was seemingly in his element), quoted verse after verse from the bible and said the Handa family have fulfilled one of Vision 2016 Pillars of ‘A Compassionate, Just and Caring Nation. “It is marvellous that the Handa’s have availed this house to our elderly, as this gift has enhanced their (the elderly) dignity as espoused, in His Excellency road-map of the 5 Ds, namely, Dignity. Hon. Motowane added that The People’s Ministry would forever be thankful to the Handa family.
Motowane went on to note the changes that have taken place over the years regarding family structures. He said extended families have been replaced by individualism and nuclear families, a trend he says, ‘has led to our elderly being left in a vulnerable position with no one to look after them’. He reminded the well attended gathering that the success of this country is attributable to the elderly who had laid a foundation for nation building and community mobilization for development.
Furthermore, he said the government is playing a major role in the welfare of the elderly to live a dignified life. This being said, the Minister said that the Government appreciates help from other role players in the economy like the private sector. He cited elderly monthly pensions; World War II allowances; food basket in the form of destitute programmes and shelter as well as free medical assistance as some of the benefits enjoyed by the elderly countrywide.
During his welcoming remarks, Director of Handa Companies, Mr. Ish Handa narrated how they had always had a dream of assisting the elderly either financially or emotionally and thus “today we are privileged to be living our dream by handing over the keys of this house to the government of Botswana. “My wish is for this Old Age Home to be their home away from home, and added that they would continue to play part”, said Mr Handa.
In closing, another speaker Mr Satar Dada urged the youth to respect and care for their parents and elderly alike and not leaves everything to the Government as it alone cannot do everything. He also applauded the Handa Family for their generosity and called on the business community to assist in the development of communities.