13 Oct 2020

Prospects Vision Company on Saturday donated cash and sorghum totalling P450 000 to the National COVID-19 Relief Fund, Pandamatenga VDC, Pandamatenga Primary School and Panda United.

Mr Hermann Venter, who co-owns the company with his family, said P200 000 would go towards the relief fund, P20 000 to the primary school while Panda United would get P5 000.

Furthermore, Mr Venter also handed over sorghum valued at P125 000 to Pandamatenga VDC and a two and a half house worth P100 000 to a less privileged member of the community, Mr Kebaletetse Kabika.He said even though the farming community was affected by the effects of COVID-19, his family decided to meet government halfway by assisting those who did not have the means.

He said 2019 was a good year in terms of the rain. 

He, however, said since farming was dependent on the weather, it was not possible to donate every year. He thanked his family and employees for the hard work that resulted in making the donation possible.

Chobe MP, Mr Machana Shamukuni,  said the donation came at an appropriate time when the country was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the P200 000 donated to the National COVID-19 Relief Fund was a significant amount and he assured the Venter family that the money would go a long way in strengthening the country’s efforts in the pandemic fight.

Mr Shamukuni, also Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, said as COVID-19 cases rose, the country needed to expand its budget to accommodate new challenges such as increasing isolation centres, purchasing more test kits while also attempting to cushion effects of the pandemic on the economic front.

“On behalf of the government, I sincerely appreciate your generous contribution towards the National COVID-19 Relief Fund and meeting the needs of the community you live in,” he said.

Mr Shamukuni said with the current uncertainty surrounding sports in general due to COVID-19 challenges, a donation to Panda United was a welcome development.

The Chobe legislator said the existence of sporting clubs could not be overemphasised since they were a way of mitigation against social ills such as alcohol abuse and crime.

For his part, Kgosi David Mafikizolo said the family had been at the forefront in assisting the community.  

He said their company had in previous years donated to Pandamatenga community during independence celebrations.

Pandamatenga councillor, Mr Tengenyane Tuelo said the Venters started ploughing in Pandamatenga in 2011 and since then had been part of the community.

Councillor Tuelo called on the Pandamatenga community to support the Venter family. 

He urged Prospects Vision employees to learn farming skills and techniques from the Venter family.

He commended Mr Venter for always ploughing for his employees at their own farms. ends