10 Jun 2019

Debswana Jwaneng Mine has stressed its commitment to continue finding opportunities to partner with government in delivery of services to the people.

Speaking at this year’s Debswana Dream Academic Awards in Jwaneng on June 7, the mine’s general manager, Mr Koolatotse Koolatotse said that in that light, they came up with initiatives driven by their socio-economic strategy to play a role in improving livelihoods of the communities around the mine.

He said such initiatives included capacity building for small and medium enterprises and corporate social responsibility, which saw the completion of projects such as dikgotla offices, clinics and classrooms blocks.

“This year alone we have completed two classrooms in Pitseng worth P1 million and we are currently constructing four classrooms at Sese at P2 million. Modest as these efforts may be, we believe it is a step in the right direction that needs collaboration of all stakeholders to ensure that our students encounter no barriers in learning,” he said.

He also indicated that in the 2019/2020 financial year, they would construct a clinic at Maboane at the cost of P11 million to alleviate healthcare challenges in localities of the village, among a few projects that Debswana completed under its CSI programme.

Mr Koolatotse also said they found it fit to assist in the improvement of the education because the sector was the core of the national development strategy and fed into many economic sectors, including the mining sector that Debswana was involved in.

He, therefore, made an assurance to government that Debswana would continue to contribute in what it could to ensure that quality education continued to be prioritised in the mine’s programmes for a better future of the nation.

Debswana managing director, Mr Albert Milton, reiterated the company’s commitment to education, as envisaged by its annual scholarships to best performing students.

He, therefore urged, the winning students to strive hard so that they could benefit the same. He also expressed his pleasure at the fact that this year, there were winners from schools located in rural areas.

Mr Milton also said he was glad that the awards continued to show improvement since their establishment three years ago, and that as Debswana, they would continue to see innovative ways they could improve the education sector, especially along the lines of technology that drove the new generation

At the awards, Kaone Ramogwega of Moshaweng Primary School got best position overall in primary schools and won herself P6 000, a laptop and a trophy while Basha Tlhotlhologolo of Morama Junior Secondary School got best pupil in junior schools and was similarly rewarded.

Best teacher in primary school went to Mr Bathusi Masoto of Kgalagadi Primary School.

Best primary school went to Kgalagadi Primary School in Jwaneng and were awarded P50 000 while Kgosimpe won the best junior school award. ENDS