02 Aug 2015

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, has applauded Bayport Financial Services for donating a four-roomed house to Ms Neelo Jobana of Moshupa.

Speaking during a handover ceremony on Saturday (August 1), Mr Masisi said the house would sooth Ms Jobana’s pain, afford her privacy and restore her dignity. The Vice President noted that Ms Jobana used to stay in a tent after her house caught fire and killed her two children in the process.

He said the house, which was donated under the auspices of the Presidential Housing Appeal, would make a huge difference in her life.

“We thank you for the fact that you saw it fit to build this house for her despite the current economic climate instead of trying to maximise profits,” he said.

Mr Masisi further thanked the company for making a difference in many other lives across the country.  He noted that the company built similar houses in Tlokweng, Gaborone, Palapye and Tswapong and also sponsored the Botswana Karate Open and donated to Sebele Primary School in Molepolole.

He urged the company to extend the gesture beyond the Vision 2016 period.

Mr Masisi, who is also the MP for Moshupa/Manyana, said if all Batswana could pull together and emulate the gesture, abject poverty would be a thing of the past.

Mr Masisi commended President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama for coming up with the housing appeal initiative in 2010.

He noted that before the inception of the programme, the private sector and Batswana were reluctant to assist the less fortunate citizens. He also noted that 471 houses have been built through the initiative while 77 others were under construction.

“This initiative encourages us to plough back into the community, and I remind the private sector that they do business within a society that also needs their assistance,” he said.

Giving the project overview, Bayport executive chairperson, Mr Father Maphongo said the gesture was to heed President Khama’s call for the private sector to assist the less privileged citizens.

He said the journey started in 2012 when he met Mr Masisi in Tlokweng during a similar event, and that he promised that his company would build a similar project in Moshupa.

The chairperson said Batswana have embraced his company, and that the donations were intended to appreciate the support.

Mr Maphongo further thanked the government for providing an enabling environment for business.

He said his company debits loan repayments directly from customers’ salaries as a result of the environment provided.

For her part, Ms Jobana said the donation would wipe tears off her eyes and restore her life.

She likened Bayport with a scripture in the Bible in which Christ unstuck a cow from muddy waters. The coordinator of the Presidential Housing Appeal, Colonel Duke Masilo also applauded Bayport for the noble gesture. Ends