11 Aug 2014

Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) have been commended for making a contribution towards the uplifting of the communities of Boteti Sub-district.

The executive director of Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM), Ms Maria Machaillo-Ellis said this during OLDM general manager’s walk at Orapa on August 9.

The walk, which had been taking place since its inception in 2002, Ms Machaillo-Ellis said did not only support OLDM mantra of making Orapa a great place to work and live, but also positively impacted on Boteti community and proved that Debswana really cared for the people.

She said she was encouraged by the number of the people who took part in the 20 kilometres walk saying their efforts would go a long way in improving the quality of life of Boteti community.

The theme ‘towards a sustainable community development,’ she said was a very noble cause which inspired the spirit of charity within the participants.

BOCCIM executive director noted that one of the projects funded from the proceeds of the walk was a donation to the tune of P1.2 million to Boteti Sub-District council for the construction of eight houses and backyard gardens for destitute persons in Xere, Khwee, Mokubilo, Mosu, Kedia, Mmea, Letlhakane and Mmatshumo.

She commended Debswana for allocating P3.5 million to OLDM through its Corporate Social Investment programme to support projects across a multiple range of platforms including health, education, environment and sports development for the year 2014 alone.

Ms Machaillo-Ellis said government and business fraternity had taken a deliberate step to eradicate poverty and ensured that those living in abject poverty graduated out of poverty and lived with dignity.

As a representative of the private sector interest various policy making bodies at various levels, BOCCIM she said would not rest until all Batswana could live dignified and sustainable lives out of poverty.

She highlighted that while government was the overall custodian of the programme, she could not do it alone, saying every development partner including business fraternity and citizens were needed to support the initiative.

Ms Machaillo-Ellis said it was therefore commendable to see Debswana leading by example and heeding government’s call for a partnership that would see Botswana realizing her goal of eradicating poverty in the country.

She implored the mines, its employees, Boteti business fraternity and the entire Boteti community to continue ‘pulling together,’ as espoused in Debswana brand values to beat challenges faced by the nation.

Ms Machaillo-Ellis said she was excited to have learnt about General Managers’ “Orapa today Boteti tomorrow’ project whose vision aims to leverage the mine to become the commercial hub of Boteti, bringing opportunity to all within the district.

The general manager, Dr Adrian Gale said the walk was one of the many examples that clearly defined true partnership between employees, business partners and the community of Boteti.

Dr Gale said it was the opportunity to truly impact the lives of individuals in the local community.The area MP, Mr Slumber Tsogwane thanked Dr Gale for continuing with the noble cause aimed at uplifting the lives of the people of Boteti.

Mr Tsogwane also appreciated that the mines have adopted Mokobaxane Primary School. He thanked all the sponsors for contributing towards the walk. Ends