21 Sep 2020

Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), through its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative with Kamoso Group, have donated 1 000 food hampers worth P400 000 to less privileged communities in Letlhakeng Sub-district.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony recently, Kamoso Group chief executive officer, Mr Ian Dewar said they were greatly honoured to be giving back to the community. 

Mr Dewar said their gesture was in response to government’s call for the private sector to lend a helping hand to the needy people in the society.

He said they were happy to be giving back to Batswana as a way of thanking them for their support, particularly that COVID-19 pandemic had left many people needing food relief.

He also thanked President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and government for leading the country through challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BDC offical, Ms Thabile Moipolai said government had been working hard to cushion Batswana from harsh COVID-19 effects hence their effort to show solidarity and assist those in need.

“As government’s main investment arm, BDC has a duty not only to drive the transformation of the economy through viable commercial investments but also give back to the society within which we operate,” Ms Moipolai said.

BDC and Kamoso Group, she said came together to respond to the need that had been magnified by the current situation, saying ‘it is through this joint effort that we are gathered here today to donate 1 000 food hampers to Letlhakeng communities as a way of giving back and investing in the people who have supported us through the years’.

Again, she said in effort to provide support through their CSR, the corporation had launched a trust that would support their initiative which focused on initiatives that promoted and supported entrepreneurship, inclusion of people living with disabilities as well as promote and expose local talent through music, arts and cultural activities.

Ms Moipolai said through the trust, the corporation would also donate one per cent post-tax profits to help towards achieving goals set to empower communities and make sustainable impact.

Meanwhile, she urged all to continue to adhere to COVID-19 protocols intended to fight the spread of coronavirus which included frequent washing of hands with soap and water, maintain social distancing, wearing of masks and avoiding unnecessary travel.

Welcoming guests, Kgosi Rantsimane Banyatsi said he was thankful for the good gesture and assistance to those in need and was honoured that families in his community would benefit from food parcels of such magnitude.

He implored the company to continue helping others across the country.

Letlhakeng Sub-council chairperson, Mr Meshack Tshenyego was also grateful for the donation.

Nevertheless, he explained that beneficiaries excluded those who were already assisted by the council and targeted those in small settlements like Matagase, Maseru, kgare-sebotswane, Lephaleng, Mmaothate and others across the Letlhakeng sub-district. Ends