25 Jun 2014

Galaletsang Ketshogile, a form five student at Selebi Phikwe Senior Secondary School, is the winner of Debswana’s secondary schools essay competition titled: Diamonds for Development in Botswana.

Explaining the essay competition procedures, Debswana’s project manager (mining technical) Mr Mike Brook, said the competition was part of Debswana’s 45th anniversary celebrations held in Gaborone on June 23.

Mr Brook said the essay title was chosen to celebrate Debswana’s anniversary and the contribution that diamonds had made to the welfare and economy of Botswana. The essay competition, which was for both government and private schools, was capped at two pages or a maximum of 1 000 words.

This competition, Mr Brook said, was facilitated through the Ministry of Education and Skills Development and winners were selected from all over Botswana. He noted that each school internally assessed students' contributions and selected the best two for submission to Debswana by March 31, 2014.

In May, he said Debswana received a total of 40 essays from 22 different schools, and only the best three won. Galaletsang scooped position one with a score of 86.6 per cent and was asked to recite her essay to the guests.

Position two went to Morekolodi Balone, a form five student from Letlhakane Senior Secondary School who scored 83 per cent, followed by Tlamelo Makgatle, a form five student at Moeding College, who scored 81.6 per cent.

Galaletsang received a laptop, Morekolodi received an iPad, whilst Tlamelo got a kindle. The electric gadgets were meant to assist students with their future studies. The three winners also received a signed copy of Mr Brook’s new book titled: Botswana’s Diamonds, Prospecting to Jewellery.

In addition, the winning school, Selebi Phikwe Senior Secondary School got a P20 000 cheque, a certificate and trophy, which were received by the school head, Mr Abraham Senabye.

Meanwhile, three Debswana employees who won the Debswana Corporate Centre’s Employee Diamond Jewellery Quiz which the company ran since January 2014 were also awarded prizes.

The winners got P5000 worth of hand crafted diamond jewellery each. The jewelleries were hand crafted by Private Collection Jewellers and featured Debswana logo. The January winner is Mr Ditshotlo Moreti, February winner is Mr Thabo Nkwe and March winner is Malebogo Mapogo. ENDS