16 Nov 2017

The government has 50 per cent stake in Debswana, with the other half belonging to De Beers.

Answering a question on behalf of the Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Minister Nonofo Molefhi said the government has 15 per cent shareholding in De Beers, with Anglo American having 85 per cent.

Minister Molefhi said Debswana had an annual Corporate Social Investment budget of P15 million, half of which is divided equally between Jwaneng Mine and Orapa-Letlhakane mines.

He said in line with Debswana CSI guidelines, the OLDM, CSI budget supports project proposals within education, small business development, arts and culture development, health and sports development. 

The minister said over the annual P3 750 000 million that goes to OLDM, the company has in the past three years supported Boteti Sub -district through various legacy projects.

He said through the Adopt-A-School initiative, P2.4 million was spent at Mokoboxane Primary School. 

The project included the construction of a classroom block, administration block and a school library.

Letlhakane Senior Secondary School also benefited the initiative where P2 million was used to fund the information and communications technologies, school library and sporting resources. 

Parliament was further informed that Seasole Primary School also benefited through the construction of five classrooms to the tune of P4 million.

Debswana also funded the Boteti East Trust Cultural Festival to the tune of P100 000, Tsienyane Primary School received a bus worth P679 000 for students with disabilities while Zibanani Women’s Vegetable garden was given P175 285, said Minister Molefhi.

The company also funded the construction of ventilated pit latrines at Kedia, Xhumo and Moreomaoto primary schools. It replaced malfunctioning tools of the design and technology labs at Mopipi JSS to valued at P145 057.

He said Debswana sponsored the Breast Cancer Awareness initiative at P50 000 and also Boteti annual Sub District Football tournament at P98 000.

Minister Molefhi said in addition, Debswana promoted local procurement, supplier development through Tokafala programme.

He said Debswana requests its suppliers to employ, train citizens, develop citizen sub-contractors and to buy materials and services locally.

Minister Molefhi said Debswana also worked with its partners to attract foreign suppliers to partner with citizens and set up locally to strengthen its local supply base. 

Boteti East MP Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe had asked the minister to state the annual budget for Debswana operations in the last three years and to state the share profit realised by the government.

He further wanted the minister to state the percentage reserved for CSI in Botswana and Boteti respectively. MP Lelatisitswe also wanted to know how much was spent locally and if there were programmes to ensure the budget is spent locally. BOPA