President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi has honored serving members of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) with medals in recognition of their service and conduct.

The awards were presented by President Masisi during a parade at the Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB) in Mogoditshane yesterday.

More than 400 BDF members received various medals, including the Duty Code Order (DCO), Pearl Jubilee Medal (PJM), Foreign Service Medal (FSM), Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), and the Long Service Medal (LSO).

Some medal recipients were absent due to their deployment on border security, anti-poaching operations, the SADC intervention in Mozambique, and the United Nations stabilization mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

President Masisi awarded the DCO to 59 officers, recognizing their dedication to duty as members of the BDF's administrative and technical staff.

Dr. Masisi also presented the PJM to 20 officers who had completed 30 years of honorable continuous service.

The Minister of Defence and Security, Mr. Kagiso Mmusi, awarded the DSM to 44 officers who had completed at least 20 years of continuous service with good conduct. The Long Service and Foreign Service medals were presented by the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Mr. Tumiso Rakgare, and Ms. Peggy Serame from the Ministry of Finance.

The medal awarding parade precedes the 47th BDF Day anniversary celebrations, set to take place at the national stadium on Saturday.

President Dr. Masisi will be the guest of honor at the event.