The Botswana Pantsula Association head of programmes and projects, Laki Kunene, pointed out that the AGM will address the previous year’s performance and activities, financial report and any other matters that may arise in an effort to grow the association. Kunene further said the event will kick-start with a parade past Ramokgonami main kgotla and graced by the village Kgosi, councillor and area Member of Parliament.
He added that the AGM was strictly for card-carrying members. However, the public will be allowed to grace the festival where there will be pantsula dance competitions later in the evening after the meeting. “To date, we have at least 54 subscribed branches across the country. It is our mandate to visit and hold events at these branches as the mother body.
Our AGM also aims to raise awareness of social ills affecting our communities such as gender-based violence (GBV), the use of weapons such as Okapi or knives together with drugs and substance abuse. We grace each and every area with our footprints to decorate and make known of our objectives as the Botswana Pantsula Association,” he said.
Furthermore, Kunene stated that they would also be giving back to the community of Ramokgonami by donating food hampers to the less privileged families identified by social workers. He also pointed out that they are mostly targeting the youth who are affected by social ills. Moreover, he said they would have four of their branches entertaining revellers during the day.
Those include Ramokgonami Original Pantsulas, Palapye Original Pantsulas, Diponeng Pantsulas from Mahalapye and Spaghetti Original Pantsulas from Francistown. He added that they would also have artists like Obza and other local disco artists performing at this event. Kunene also assured that they would have tight security during the event and would implore a search and seize tactic to ward off any criminal activities.
However, Kunene pointed out that they faced financial challenges to administer their events.
He therefore urged their members to contribute at least P50 towards the Less Privileged Programme. “These contributes immensely in the heartbreaking instances such as passion killings and HIV/AIDS. We know that these cannot be curbed 100% but the more we make noise about good resilience definitely the nation shall be at rest.
Pantsula is fraternal; we look out for one another and the community around us,” he added. Kunene said they have invited insurance companies to offer their members financial literacy. “We ought to do good to our members and the entire community at large. People tend to think Pantsulas are thugs and cruel individuals but that is a wrong perspective they give, we are a Kasi Culture nation with a distinct look; cleanliness is the key, and we take pride in our appearance,” he explained. The festival entrance fee is P50 double and P30 for a single ticket.
