02 Apr 2014

In an endeavour to achieve one of its strategic goals of creating an impeccable legacy in the lives of communities in its areas of operation, Jwaneng Mine recently handed over an ambulance and porta-cabin to Maboane clinic.

It also handed play facilities to the village’s primary school. The two donations totalled P1 million. Officiating at the event, the mine’s senior manager for sustainability, Mr Tefo Molosiwa said the effort also indicated the mine’s commitment to playing a positive role on both the health and education of the community, two aspects which he said were vital in creating a healthy economic growth for the nation.

Mr Molosiwa said the mine had been supporting the growth of health and education since 2002 when it kick started a programme aimed at augmenting the government’s efforts at primary schools.

Mr Molosiwa said through the programe dubbed Debswana Government School’s Development Programme mine funded specialist teachers in the areas of mathematics, Science and English, and that Maboane primary school was one of the beneficiaries.

“It is under the umbrella of this programme that we have developed playing facilities for children at this school so that they can also enjoy the recreational aspects of learning,” he said.

Mr Molosiwa said the mine had also partnered with the Ministry of Health to promote and provide comprehensive quality health services to the nation, an arrangement under which the Maboane clinic benefited.

“At the core of Debswana’s commitment to uplifting the lives of Batswana is our ‘show we care’ value, through which we pledge to partner with the communities in the areas we mine, to create a legacy of prosperity, sustainability and empowerment. It is my hope that these projects we are handing over this morning are received in that regard,” he said.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Tirelo Motseonageng of Maboane appreciated the assistance the mine had extended to his village, saying it answered their long held complaints that even though Maboane area supplied the mine with water, the mine seemed to be doing little to appreciate that.

“Last year as the village leadership we decided to take the mine management head on and raise our concerns, and the mine promised to gravel the internal road in the village. We however, felt that although this was also a necessity, it was not the top of the village’s needs and requested instead that the mine extend our clinic,” he said.

Kgosi Motseonageng said the mine agreed then to provide a porta-cabin and an ambulance. He advised the Maboane community to hand and use the equipment properly. Ends