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GABORONE. — Today is Botswana national day, as the southern African country celebrates its Golden Jubilee.

Those who have made outstanding contributions in building Botswana over the past 50 years have been recognised at a special ceremony in Gaborone recently.

In an interview, secretary for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Ms Kebonye Moepeng said the awards ceremony was held in recognition of the founders of the nation.

Ms Moepeng said the awards celebration was held under the Golden Jubilee BOT50 theme: “United and Proud nation”, to appreciate togetherness, peace and stability and the progressive growth that Botswana has enjoyed for the past 50 years in various sectors of the economy.

She said it was against this backdrop that President Lt Gen Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama saw it fit to bestow honours on the first state Presidents of Botswana, Vice Presidents, First Cabinet, First Parliament, First members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi members, First Ladies, members of the First Legislative Council as well as Pioneers in various sectors of the economy.

She said a total of 75 recipients were rewarded for their contribution to building “Botswana that we see today.” Ms Moepeng said, “Botswana is a shining democracy today because its foundation is firmly anchored on respect for the rule of law, civil liberties and Botho, which Batswana are known for.”

Ms Moepeng highlighted that Botswana has been able to develop over the years because of continuity and good governance structures in place.

“There is continuity in what other leaders have done in the past and this ensured development as they implemented what the other had started and improved on where they left,” she said.

However, the UK’s Telegraph newspaper in a piece titled “16 remarkable things you didn’t know about Botswana” says, President Khama was named “Racist of the Year” by Survival International.

According to The Telegraph, “The dubious distinction is given annually to ‘the person displaying the greatest prejudice against tribal peoples’.

‘‘So what did Khama do? Well, according to Survival International, he has repeatedly called into question ‘the legitimacy of the Bushmen’s (Khoisan) existence’ and suggested ‘they are lower down the evolutionary ladder than other people’”.— BOPA/The Telegraph/HR.