13 Jul 2015

Debswana employees at Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) are housed within the Orapa Township but due to lack of accommodation, some rent private houses within the proximity of the mining town.

Answering a question in parliament, the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila said such employees receive housing allowance to rent accommodation in the open marketing, hence contribute to citizen economic empowerment.

The minister said Debswana would continue to monitor the housing situation of its employees with a view to explore constructing additional houses within Orapa when need arises.

Mr Mokaila said the Letlhakane Mines Tailings Resource Treatment Project is not anticipated to result in an increased number of employees as it is expected to retain a significant percentage of employees already employed by Debswana based at OLDM.

“Therefore, Debswana has no plans to build houses for its employees in Letlhakane village,” he said. 

He was responding to a question from MP for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe who had asked if the minister was aware of shortage of housing faced by Debswana employees at Letlhakane.

MP Lelatisitswe also asked whether the minister does not see the need to motivate Debswana to build more houses in Letlhakane to cater for expansion of the mine in the village. ENDS