The Ministry of Minerals and Energy (MME) successfully hosted its 2026 Annual Sports Games this past weekend, bringing employees and stakeholders together in a celebration of teamwork, unity and wellness. Held under the theme “One Ministry, One Team, Moving Together Towards Excellence,” the games created an opportunity for MME departments, parastatals and companies to strengthen relationships outside the usual workplace environment. The event also highlighted the value of employee wellness and collaboration in building a more connected and effective ministry. Strong participation from across the MME family demonstrated the enthusiasm and commitment of employees towards activities that promote healthy lifestyles and workplace unity. Beyond the sporting competition, the annual games served as a platform for strengthening relationships and reinforcing a shared commitment to serving Botswana.
Officially opening the 2026 MME Annual Sports Games, Minister of Minerals and Energy Honourable Bogolo Joy Kenewendo praised participants for their strong turnout and enthusiasm. She noted that participation had surpassed the 2025 games, reflecting growing interest in the initiative and the willingness of employees to come together as one ministry. Her remarks reinforced the message that success in the games should not be viewed only through individual or team victories, but as a collective achievement for the entire MME family. She encouraged participants to support one another throughout the competition and to maintain the spirit of unity beyond the sporting field. The Minister also reminded employees of their wider responsibility to remain committed to serving Botswana and contributing positively to the ministry’s mandate.
The theme of this year’s games placed particular emphasis on the idea of one ministry working towards a common goal. In a large organisation with different departments, parastatals and companies, employees can sometimes operate within separate areas of responsibility, making opportunities for interaction especially valuable. Sporting events provide a practical way for colleagues from different teams and professional backgrounds to interact, build friendships and develop greater understanding of one another. Competition can also encourage qualities such as discipline, communication, cooperation and respect, all of which are relevant to the workplace. By bringing people together around a shared activity, the MME Annual Sports Games helped strengthen the sense that employees are part of one organisation working towards common objectives.
MME Permanent Secretary Mr Donald Gaetsaloe also highlighted the importance of employee wellbeing during his welcome remarks. He expressed appreciation to the organisers for ensuring that medical services and health screening were available throughout the two-day event. The inclusion of health services added an important wellness component to the games, allowing participants to take part in physical activities while also having access to basic health support. Workplace wellness can play an important role in helping employees maintain healthier lifestyles and remain aware of factors that can affect their overall wellbeing. By incorporating health screening into the sports programme, the ministry demonstrated that the event was focused on more than competition and included practical measures to support its employees.
Gaetsaloe further explained that the annual games provide an opportunity for staff to refresh themselves and strengthen relationships. Employees often face demanding responsibilities, deadlines and operational pressures, making opportunities to step away from routine work valuable for morale and team cohesion. Taking part in sporting activities can encourage physical movement while creating informal spaces where colleagues can interact in a less structured environment. These interactions can contribute to stronger working relationships when employees return to their regular duties. The Permanent Secretary noted that the event could help prepare employees to return to work with renewed energy, reinforcing the connection between staff wellbeing and effective performance.
The participation of departments, parastatals and companies also gave the games a broader organisational reach. Instead of limiting the event to one group of employees, the programme created an opportunity for different parts of the MME family to participate and compete together. This type of interaction can help employees understand the importance of collaboration across organisational structures, particularly when their responsibilities ultimately contribute to shared national priorities. It also provides an opportunity for participants to recognise the skills and contributions of colleagues they may not regularly encounter in their day-to-day work. The sporting environment therefore became an additional space for building professional relationships that can support cooperation in the workplace.
The success of the 2026 games also reflects the importance of creating workplace activities that support both physical and social wellbeing. Sports can encourage healthy competition while teaching participants to value teamwork and collective effort. The event also offered employees an opportunity to demonstrate qualities such as perseverance, discipline and commitment, which can translate into positive attitudes towards their professional responsibilities. While winning remains an important part of any sporting competition, the broader objective was to encourage employees to support one another and celebrate their shared identity as members of the MME family. The strong participation compared with the previous year’s games suggests that the initiative continues to attract interest and provide value to employees.
As the games concluded, congratulations went to all the winners as well as every participant who proudly represented the MME name. Each team and individual contributed to an event that celebrated teamwork, unity and a shared sense of belonging within the ministry. The emphasis on participation and collective achievement also reinforced the message that the strength of MME depends on employees working together rather than operating in isolation. Events such as the Annual Sports Games can help create stronger relationships, improve morale and encourage employees to approach their responsibilities with renewed energy. The 2026 edition therefore stands as a celebration of sport while also inspiring the ministry and its employees to continue working towards improved service delivery and excellence for Botswana.
