12 Aug 2015

The director of Top Bread in Maun, Mr Harish Muduvalli says a business operating within a community has to be part of that community so that it can be successful.

Speaking in an interview recently, he said Top Bread was a home to the less privileged and the community at large.

“It is our duty to give to the disadvantaged people hence we try by all means not to let them down or send them back empty handed whenever they come for help,” said Mr Muduvalli.

He noted that his business has been contributing to the community since 2007, and that it was a home to residents of Moeti, Shashe as well as Botshabelo wards.

Mr Muduvalli added that he was able to do all these due to the good relations he has with the headmen of the wards. 

He said he contributes to weddings, funerals and also helps with transport during emergencies. 

Furthermore, he said he values helping the handicapped, senior citizens as well as the less privileged and schools in the community. 

“We also train the unemployed youth on how to bake bread by hiring them as casual workers. We do this to help reduce crime and alcohol abuse amongst unemployed youths,” he added. 

Top Bread also supports community clubs such as Mmabanyana Cultural Group and some of the traditional dance groups in Moeti.

He said Top Bread has been awarded a certificate of appreciation by Makalamabedi Junior Secondary School for taking part in their prize giving ceremony. 

Furthermore, the Top Bread director donated rations to the cluster that was building a house for the less privileged in Moeti. They first made a donation of roofing material to a house that was built in 2013 for a handicapped woman in Shashe. 

During the course of the interview, an elderly woman entered the room with an emergency plea to Mr Muduvalli that his house has burnt down to ashes therefore she was in need of his help. 

The response by the business man was positive and he promised to meet her at her place and help where possible.

Moreover, Top Bread manager, Mr Mkhululi Dube said Batswana were friendly people who do not discriminate and that he no longer feels a foreigner. 

He said good behaviour brings people together and that it was what they as Top Bread would like to portray.

Mr Dube added that they do not only give back to the community, but also take into consideration the welfare of their employees. 

He said the relationship between the staff and the employer has to be good for the business to become a success. 

Furthermore, the manager said they provide counselling to their staff whenever they see that an employee needs help.

He said for employees to be productive their welfare should be taken care of.

Mr Muduvalli encouraged companies to take the community seriously, and to back up government initiatives such as poverty eradication. He said without the community there would be no profits hence every company needs to give back to the community.  ENDS