02 Feb 2015

The Butale community leaders have commended a businessman Mr Fidelis Ncube of Fidelity Print Mark for having heeded the call by President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama for individuals and organisations to help in the provision of decent housing to the less-privileged.

During a handing-over ceremony of a house to Ms Thusiwe Macha in Butale on Saturday (January 31), different speakers hailed Mr Ncube and his family for being sterling examples that it was a worthwhile exercise to do good for others.

Kgosi Grace Butale of Butale described the donation as a noteworthy milestone in the history of their village; further noting that the fact that Mr Ncube had donated a house before in the village had clearly set him apart as someone who had the interests of the less-fortunate at heart.

Kgosi Butale said it was her deepest wish that other people from the village would emulate Mr Ncube with the view to turning around the lives of others as well as developing their village.

Encouraging the spirit of giving, she pointed out that sharing with others attracted good things to one’s life.

“Sharing is good as it attracts good things. The more you give, the more you receive,” she said.

Thanking President Khama for the Presidential Housing Appeal, a relative of the beneficiary Mr Biki Butale (not Tati West MP) said the initiative was indeed a good one as it had given a lot of people the opportunity to have a roof over their heads.

Mr Butale noted that prior to the start of the Presidential Housing Appeal many people who lacked proper housing had had no hope of ever owning proper houses. 

He similarly thanked the Ncube family for their gesture of goodwill towards Ms Macha and the rest of the Butale community, saying the family’s efforts towards the village’s growth and development were visible to all.

VDC chairperson Mr Geoffrey Njamela described Mr Ncube as a Good Samaritan as his endeavour had always been to impact positively on the lives of others.

Giving an overview of the house built for Ms Macha, Mr Njamela explained that the beneficiary had been chosen by Butale residents during a kgotla meeting as it was clear that she was among those who desperately needed such assistance.

He also appealed to Ms Macha to take good care of her house, and also called on relatives to keep supporting her and to ensure that she lived peacefully in her new home.

For his part, the donor Mr Ncube, informed the gathering that the project started in 2011, but had not been completed within a shorter period of time as the beneficiary did not have a plot of her own and as such the landboard had to be approached to allocate her a plot.

He explained that his company built the house while Tati East MP Mr Samson Guma donated P10 000 towards furnishing the house.

Mr Ncube said Fidelity Print Mark was committed to sharing its fortunes with the less-privileged, and that they also believed strongly in the Vision 2016 pillar of a compassionate, just and caring nation.

Turning to the beneficiary’s relatives as well as the rest of the Butale community, Mr Ncube cautioned them against disrespecting Ms Macha by doing as they pleased in her home for the simple reason that she had not incurred any expenses in its setting up.

An official from the District Commissioner’s office Ms Itani Mathumo said government could not single-handedly provide for the less-privileged hence the need for individuals and organisations to rise to the occasion and lend a helping hand.

She applauded Fidelity Print Mark for their compassion towards the needy.

Senyawe councillor Mr William Tatose noted with happiness that President Khama’s plea for housing for the needy had not fallen on deaf ears.

Cllr Tatose noted that access to decent housing by all remained one of government’s top priorities, adding that it was good that companies as well as individuals had stepped up to the plate to help government realise this noble dream.

The house donated to Ms Macha comprises of a bedroom, living room as well as a kitchen. She also has water connected to her yard.

Ms Macha, who expressed gratitude for her new home, also received free-range chickens from Mr Ncube and several Butale residents. ENDS