01 Sep 2014

Nonoza Enterprises, a consultancy company based in Gaborone, has donated a two and half house to an eight-member Nkele family in Sefhophe.

The company also fenced the families homestead and constructed a toilet. Previously the family lived in a tent.

When handing over the house on behalf of the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, the deputy permanent secretary in the ministry, Ms Kelebogile Kgabi thanked the company for the good gesture.

She said the move was in line with the government’s endeavour to eradicate poverty and President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s fifth ‘D’ of restoring dignity among Batswana as well as Vision 2016’s pillar  to be a compassionate and caring nation.

She also stated that the state of being safe and secure included all citizens being able to sleep peacefully and safely away from elements such as bad weather, as well as being protected from all hazardous things.

She explained that the project was initiated by two youth from Sefhophe namely Otsile Manyatsa and Tshepiso Ditsheko after seeing the plight of the disadvantaged family. She said after kick starting the project, somewhere in its course the project was grounded due to financial constraints.

She said the youth who were doing their shooting of video called Moipolai came across Nonoza Enterprises who happened to be the sponsors of their video project.

The two shared the issue of the house project with their sponsor who then decided to come over board and assist with the project. She said the project was inducted under the President’s Housing Appeal to help house the needy country wide.

“One needs to appreciate with pride the motivation created by President Khama to help the under privileged. The Presidents Housing Appeal project he introduced has benefitted and still benefiting more families countrywide, looking at the pledges that have been made, ”she said commending Nonoza Enterprises for contributing towards the initiative.

Ms Kgabi stated that government has constantly made it known that without the direct involvement of the private sector through their cooperate social responsibility; she will not be successful in changing lives of Batswana.

For his part, Mr Meluleki Mhlanga, a representative of Nonoza Enterprises said that all this happened because of the will of God. He acknowledged all organisations and individuals who contributed towards the project.

He explained that after Otsile and Tshepiso approached him about the Nkele family, he visited the family and when he discovered that the family of eight lived in a tent and had only one mud house in the yard, he was deeply touched by the situation.

He said his company decided to construct a two and a half roomed house for the under-privileged family. He said by doing so his company was also taking heed to the call by President Khama through the President’s Housing Appeal to help house the needy.

“Government alone cannot manage to house all the needy. In this regard, Batswana as whole and other companies should also play a role in this objective of giving a helping hand to disadvantaged families,” he said.

Nonoza Enterprises has done a number of charity works around the country. Besides building houses for the needy, they sponsored youth projects, youth football teams and orphanages among others.

For his part, Senior Private Secretary to the President, Brigadier George Tlhalerwa who is overseeing the Presidents Housing Appeal, acknowledged Nonoza Enterprises for the charity work they have done and also for constructing a house for the Nkele family.

He said this showed that organisations and Batswana as a whole are taking heed to the call by President Khama to help and house the needy.

He said Batswana should appreciate that President Khama is a man of God and his main concern is to help the needy and uplift their lives, Batswana should be happy that they have a leaders of such caliber.

He explained that President Khama initiated the housing appeal to give needy Batswana the dignity they deserve and uplift their lives.

He explained that up to date since 2009, 400 houses have been handed over to families’ country wide through the initiative. Currently 47 houses are under construction.

Pastor MacDonald Ndlovu of Bible Life Ministries in Selebi Phikwe gave a word of wisdom from the Bible about charity. He acknowledged Nonoza Enterprises for the good gesture and encouraged other Batswana to emulate what they have done.

Pastor Ndlovu and his wife Emily also pledged to donate pairs of shoes to the Nkele family children which his wife bought while still in America. Emily bought many pairs of shoes to donate to children around the country.

In the meantime, Ms Tshwanelo Nkele fondly known as Mma Molebi in Sefhophe thanked Nonoza Enterprises and President Khama for introducing the housing appeal.

She said previously, she and her family used to live in poverty with no dignity. But now they live in a house which is fully furnished with beds. Ends