27 Nov 2017

Debswana has approved over P2 million for installation of streetlights in Letlhakane.

Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) general manager,  Mr Bakani Motlhabani told councillors during Boteti Sub-district Council meeting in Letlhakane recently, that streetlights would be installed from Shoppers Junction to a junction leading to Motsumi Junior Secondary School.

He also stated that P2 million had also been approved for the construction of Orapa Junior Secondary School classrooms.

In addition, he said P5 million had been approved for Letlhakane Primary Hospital maternity wing ward extension.

He further revealed that  Debswana had a Citizen Economic Empowerment (CEE) programme dubbed, Tokafala aimed at enabling citizen-owned local businesses to access supply chain opportunities that arise from Debswana’s projects and operations.

CEE, he said was of strategic importance as it secured and maintained Debswana’s social licensee to the mine and also served as a vehicle to develop thriving and healthy host communities.

“Debswana also aims at achieving the aspirations of CEE through partnerships such as Tokafala enterprises, which would serve as a delivery vehicle for capacity building and enterprise development,” he said.

Currently, he said there were six businesses bordering on improvement programmes and they were Dream Choice, Bokamoso Engineering, Diplex Investments, WERMS, Bee Back and Bharon Construction.

“Debswana’s CEE offerings included goods and services reserved for citizens, procurement price preferential margins for small, micro and medium enterprises,” he said.

Furthermore, OLDM, he said employed 98.1 per cent of citizens and expected its contractors to do the same.

“Debswana aims to achieve a diversified economy for the region to self-sustain beyond mine closure and will encourage its suppliers or contractors to support development of small medium enterprises,” he said.

Nominated councillor for Boteti West, Mr Baobonye Loeto called for easy access to Orapa Township saying it would pave way for developments in Boteti.

Also, he called for rehabilitation of Mopipi Dam saying it could boost the economy of Mopipi.

Councillor Thomas Kgethenyane ofKhumaga-Moremaoto raised a concern that Debswana boreholes were disturbing the acquifiers.

In his response, Mr Motlhabani said it was part of their plans to consider opening the town to the public.

Since the township was close to the mine, he said it might not be an easy exercise. ENDS