29 Aug 2022

The Rural Area Development Programme (RADP) has not only seen government bringing services closer to communities, but also moving closer to realising the integration of Rural Area Dwellers (RADS) into the mainstream society.

Botswana Building Society (BBS) manager, Elizabeth Mabaila said this at the Miss RADP and fashion show in Serowe, held under the theme; Unearthing Natural Beauty and Talent, on Friday.

Ms Mabaila said RADP was a gender empowerment initiative done under the support of affirmative action framework for RAD communities.

Government, she said, was committed to ensuring that citizens in remote areas were able to access tertiary education by paying their tuition fees.

Mabaila said the RADP pageant started in 2013 and aimed at creating a pool of talented young men and women from remote area settlements to be empowered and become ambassadors in their communities.

“This provides a platform for these young women to showcase their beauty and talents, and hopefully to expose them to greater stages such as Miss Botswana, Miss World and Miss Universe,’’ she said.

This year’s theme, she said, aimed at promoting inclusiveness of previously disadvantaged remote area communities in development activities or opportunities.

Mabaila said the king and the queen would enhance the promotion and branding of RADP while at the same time increase participation of young women from rural areas in preserving culture and building their self-esteem.

She said the RADP objectives included addressing spatial and social inequalities, attract business activities and help in economic growth of rural settlements by empowering beneficiaries to sustainably fend for themselves.

Rural area dwellers were disadvantaged from utilising government programmes and taking advantage of economic opportunities due to their remoteness, she added.

The last Miss RADP was held in 2019, but due to COVID-19, government restricted all movements and events, hence the suspension of the pageant for the years 2020 and 2021.

Miss RADP title was snatched by Charity Ntefelang from Malatswae, first princess is Tlamelo Galotlhaloganye while Mavis Gotana emerged the second princess.

Kgotso Gasemodimo won the Mr RADP title, followed by Gaotelwe Makgasa on position two and Kaone Banthobogile on position three.

Mr and Miss RADP went away with P1 000 each while the second prince and princess cashed P730 each and P500 went to those who got position three.

Participants were from settlements in the Serowe Administration Authority being Sehunou, Majwanaadipitse, Dimajwe and Malatswae. ENDS