The 2026 Mascom Batanani Walk will support the development of child-friendly centres, delivered in partnership with the Botswana Police Service and UNICEF Botswana, the telecommunications company has announced.
In a press release the company said the centres – including but not limited to those in Francistown, Boteti and Shakawe – will provide a safe, welcoming and child-centred environment where young victims and witnesses of abuse can report cases with dignity while receiving appropriate support, with the long-term vision of expanding similar facilities across Botswana.
Mascom Chief Executive Officer, Dzene Makhwade-Seboni, said the campaign reflects a commitment that extends far beyond a single annual event.
“Every child deserves to grow up feeling safe, protected and able to realise their full potential. Child safety cannot be left to one institution or one organisation,” she said.
“It requires families, communities, business and government to work together. That is exactly what Batanani represents. Every registration, every conversation and every step taken on 8 August is a visible commitment to building a Botswana where children are safer.”
Apart from being a CEO of Botswana’s leading telecommunications company, Makhwade-Seboni also serves as Co-Chair of UNICEF Botswana’s Private Sector Forum for Child Rights (formerly the CEO’s Council for Children’s Rights), championing greater private sector leadership in advancing children’s rights nationally.
This year’s message highlights that protecting children is not the responsibility of parents alone, but belongs to every one of us. The Mascom Batanani Walk returns on Saturday August 8, 2026, under the theme “Step Up for Child Safety”, rallying Batswana around one of the country’s most urgent social priorities.
Since its launch in 2019, the Walk has tackled some of Botswana’s most pressing social issues, from gender-based violence and children’s rights to mental health, disability inclusion, substance abuse, digital safety and breast cancer awareness, demonstrating the power of collective action to drive lasting social impact.
“Members of the public are encouraged to register individually or as families, schools, workplaces and community groups, because protecting Botswana’s future begins with protecting its children,” Mascom advised.