18 Aug 2015

Acting managing director of Barclays Bank Botswana says collaboration between banks is important as the industry is getting tougher and banks need to get friendlier among themselves.

Speaking at the launch of this year’s InterBank games that are slated to start on Friday August 21, Kgotso Bannalotlhe said Barclays Bank Botswana is delighted to be the host for this year’s games.

He said it is not just games that will be played, but the InterBank Games also present an opportunity for banks to deepen their relations.

“The games have a very long legacy and I think they are in their 10th year but I feel it is a pity that the only time we get to meet and come together is during this one time occasion,” he said.

Bannalotlhe further indicated that banks do a lot of work in the community and it is with this spirit that has kept the InterBank games relevant.

“We should continue doing more in the community and remember that it is not only about the games, but also helping the less privileged and coming up with initiatives that contribute significantly to people’s lives,” he said.

For his part, Chairperson of this year’s organising committee, Monty Bakwena said this year, they will not hold Miss InterBanks 2015 beauty pageant.

“We need to do more on the little that we have and the harvest of the future is as good as the seed one plants today,” he said, adding that this year’s corporate social responsibility project will be around literacy and will be driven by last year’s winner of Miss InterBanks 2014, Julia Bagopi.

He said the literacy drive will be focused on identified primary schools and they will donate books to such schools.

He also indicated that there will be an Aerobothon that will include everyone and the games will also be bigger and better this year.

For her part, Miss InterBanks 2014, Bagopi said literacy is an important aspect of everyday life.

“Economy, social, political and even personal development require someone to be literate and it is important to get children reading from a young age before they are adults,” she said.

She said parents should start off by reading to their kids when they go to bed as this is an important aspect of getting children to take up reading.

“Being literate is the key to global and international relations and understanding and the key to many opportunities in life and also supports one of Botswana’s Vision 2016 of having an educated and informed nation,” she said.

She called on other member banks and partners to help with the literacy drive.

InterBank games will commence on Friday August 21 at different locations and on Saturday August 22 it will be the finals and the after party at BOBS grounds in Block 5.

The entrance fee for the Saturday event is P100 at the gate and the event starts at 3pm and people have been encouraged to enjoy responsibly. ENDS