18 Dec 2016

Woolworths Botswana has donated clothing items worth P1.7 million to seven districts.

Speaking at the handing over of clothing items to RADS settlements, the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said her ministry was committed to establishing partnerships with the private sector so as to meet the needs of various communities.

She said government alone would not adequately provide for the needy and the vulnerable, hence need for the support and backing of the private sector.

Ms Tshireletso noted that the donation reaffirmed the solid and strong partnership that exists between the government and the private sector.

She explained that Woolworths started in April this year when they donated T-shirts to the Gaborone City Council beauty pageants contestants and clothes worth P900 000 in September this year.

‘’It is against this background that I want to commend Woolworths for such a remarkable generosity,” she said. The assistant minister said the gesture came at the right time when Christmas and New Year celebrations were approaching.

“I have no doubt that the identified beneficiaries will join the rest of the society with new clothes to wear, they will not look different from other children who come from capable families and above all, their morale will be boosted by putting on the Woolworths brand and this is indeed an early Christmas for the them,” she said.

In his welcome remarks, the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Molefi Keaja said the ministry and Woolworths had a special relationship since the store always helped the ministry with donations.

“Today, they have donated clothing items for both men and women including babies, and we are taking these clothing items to seven districts which are far from developments to put smiles on their faces as we approach Christmas and New Year,” he said.

For his part, the Woolworths country operations manager, Mr Thami Ndlovu said Woolworths Botswana wanted to donate and uplift the community and continue partnering with the ministry. ENDS