23 Feb 2021

Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation has applauded Majwe Mining Joint Venture and Puma Energy for donating 300 waste bins to be used for waste around Kanye and surrounding villages.

Speaking during the handing over ceremony, he said waste management was a critical first step in the fight against COVID-19. 

He noted that emphasis was placed on personal hygiene.

Dr Kwape, who is also a member of Vision 2036 council, said he was delighted to witness national ideals taking root in the everyday lives of Batswana. 

He explained that the gesture spoke to both ideals of human and social development as well as sustainable environment. 

He thanked the mining giants for reinvesting proceeds into the community rather than only looking to make profit.

He further commended the company for having sponsored the Southern Games in 2019 and donating computers to Tsonyane Primary School. 

Dr Kwape, who is also Member of Parliament for Kanye North constituency, took advantage of the platform to inform residents that government was racing against time to purchase and deliver the COVID-19 vaccine.

He implored Batswana to trust government with the exercise and avoid unnecessary confusion.

KAA chairperson, Mr Simon Ramaphoi, when receiving the donation, decried that his area was overwhelmed with indiscriminate disposal of waste. 

He said the donation would kill them three birds with one stone in that it would help keep the sub district clean, earn them revenue through collections and create employment for private litter collectors.

He said his wish was for every household to have a bin and to pay a once off fee of P240 per year.

Handing the donation, Majwe Mining communications manager, Mr Archibald Ngakayagae said the gesture was inspired by the national ideal of a sustainable environment. He said managing waste could go a long way in mitigating the effects of climate change.

He encouraged parents to teach children to reduce waste generation, reuse and recycle. Majwe Mining also donated a cheque worth P40 000 towards the next edition of the Southern Games, and Mr Ngakayagae vowed that the company would continue with community projects they had committed to do despite the fact that their contract with Debswana would lapse next month.

The event also saw the donation of three wheel chairs, two by Motor Centre Botswana, one specialised for a child born with cerebral palsy and the other by Superprint. 

The child’s mother, Ms Bame Medupe thanked Motor Centre for giving her child mobility. 

She said the eight-year-old wholly relied on her for mobility. ends