18 Dec 2017

Managing director of Debswana Diamond Company, Mr Balisi Bonyongo has described the outgoing head of corporate affairs at Debswana as a two dimensional person who is both motherly and academic professional.

Mr Bonyongo made the remarks at a farewell dinner hosted for the retiring Ms Esther Kanaimba-Senai held at Cresta Lodge in Gaborone on Tuesday. 

Ms Kanaimba-Senai has been the head of corporate affairs since joining the company 10 years ago.

Mr Bonyongo noted that while the ever smiling Ms Kanaimba-Senai was a perfectionist at work and wanted it done to maximum satisfaction, she also exuded a sense of motherhood while she intermingled with other staff members and her corporate affairs team, a trend he said made it easy for them to achieve their results and targets.  

He said the fact that Kanaimba-Senai reported to work every day with a sense of purpose and determination to deliver on her assignment and was not shy to share her family problems with him, made it possible for her to achieve during her decade-stay with the company.  In the meantime, he said should they need her services, the company would not hesitate to call her. Mr Bonyongo further noted that the fact that the lady of the day worked with three different managing directors meant she had seen it all, adding that when he personally had workplace challenges in 2008, she was his pillar while everybody deserted him.

Meanwhile, the incoming head of corporate affairs, Ms Rachel Mothibatsela noted with pride that Ms Kanaimba-Senai groomed her and the entire corporate affairs team, adding that her predecessor was also eager to experiment on new and challenging ideas, which could be used to thrust the company forward.  Ms Mothibatsela noted that her former boss, who was fond of fashion and style, and still looked too young to retire although she had long passed her prime, was a practical and realistic leader who was ready to lend an ear for positive development. 

She said she was also particular in the use of English language and pronunciation of English words and phrases.    

She said as a mother at heart, Ms Kanaimba-Senai had great devotion for children and not only hers, but that of other people including her relatives. 

Ms Mothibatsela said it was through this motherly love which she further extended at the workplace that they were able to relate with her although she was way ahead on them in terms of age.

For her part, Ms Kanaimba-Senai, who started working as a journalist with Radio Botswana and later joined SADC, thanked everybody who supported her over the years. She further thanked Mr Bonyongo for talking and describing her character the way it was, something she said was rare.

She noted that the fact that he was able to describe her personal and professional character showed that there was indeed cordial relationship between their offices. 

In addition, Ms Kanaimba-Senai said her boss understood her well and he was ready to defend her ideas at a high level. 

Ms Kanaimba-Senai further said she enjoyed her stay with Debswana and would remain part of the team even in her retirement. BOPA