08 Dec 2019

Mascom Wireless on December 6 handed over five houses to destitute persons in Otse in the South East District.

The houses, which were part of the President’s Housing Appeal, made a total of 43 houses that Mascom Wireless built for destitute persons.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Mmusi Kgafela applauded Mascom for its gesture, saying its effort was consistent with government’s ideals where the private sector provided shelter to citizens.

“The efforts by Mascom compliment efforts by government to provide shelter, especially in the rural areas,” he said.

The minister emphasised that the government alone could not provide for all the shelter needs of citizens.

Mr Kgafela further commended the company, saying its technology investment initiatives had since 2009 demonstrated that it was well aware that human habitat would not be complete without telecommunication infrastructure that facilitated community engagement and sharing of information.

This, he said, was demonstrated by its private public partnership with government in the past, which rolled out communication services to 41 villages under the Nteletsa II connectivity project, which included establishment for 41 Kitsong centres.

“Upon realising the need and the potential life changing effect of this project, Mascom continued with the initiative. They have so far developed a total of 115 operational Kitsong centres, in 115 villages across Botswana,” he said.

The area Member of Parliament, Mr Lefoko Moagi, said shelter provision was key to the lives of the community members.

Appropriate shelter dignified the life on an individual hence beneficiaries having their dignity restored, he said.

Mr Moagi stated that apart from providing for the five families, the company had continued to invest in information technology, ‘which is core to the development of the community.’

Mr Moagi said information technology had eased the provision of services and communication hence lessening the burden of long queues and long travels for such services.

 Mascom Wireless chief executive officer, Ms Dzene Makhwade-Seboni said the company had vowed to be involved through its social responsibility programme.

 Ms Makhwade-Seboni said their corporate social responsibility ‘goes beyond information technology.’

Apart from assisting the vulnerable groups, Mascom also assisted the arts industry, environment issues, mobile health and sport.

 The five houses were for Ms Lesego Moseki, Ms Mpene Lephoi, Ms Badiredi Sebulantlo, Mr Mpharanyane Moswaakhudu and Ms Maatla Rabasimane. Ends