03 Nov 2021

Khoemacau Copper Mine has been lauded for supporting government efforts to grow the small-medium enterprises sector.

The commendation was made by the Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi, after a tour of the facility on Monday.

Mr Molebatsi said he was impressed to learn that the mine was committed to promoting citizen participation as the community would benefit from the value chain development.

He said he had been informed that the mine engaged local suppliers and the community to provide critical services, adding that what the mine was doing was in line with his ministry’s mandate to develop sustainable enterprises and create a conducive environment for the promotion of investment.

Mr Molebatsi appreciated that the mine’s efforts also resonated with the Reset Agenda, which placed economic empowerment at the epicentre of the country’s economic development. The agenda, he said, also encouraged value chain development in sectors such as mining, manufacturing and agriculture, among others and promote sustainable industrialisation, which would generate wealth and create employment opportunities for the locals.

The assistant minister stated that the mine had a lot to offer in value chain development, citing primary works such as drilling of boreholes and transportation of goods, among others. 

Mr Molebatsi also commended the mine board of directors for choosing to do business in Botswana, adding that the government regarded the mine as a big partner in the development of the economy.

Earlier on, the assistant minister had apprised the mine management on the Economic Inclusion Act, which seeks to promote effective citizen participation in economic growth and development.

He advised management to be prepared for its implementation, albeit being a step ahead in some of the sections, such as economic participation, inclusiveness, social upliftment and procurement of  goods locally.

He explained that as the act had been signed, his ministry was now working round the clock to establish a unit to ensure a coordinated and uniform approach to economic empowerment.

The office, he said, would also ensure smooth implementation of the law across all sectors of the economy. Mr Molebatsi said the act also talks about provision of opportunities for targeted citizens to do business with state as well as procurement to target citizen owned enterprises.

The other aspect of the act, he said, dealt with training of targeted citizens, adding that it was important for the ministry to know which skills were needed to match the education system with the job market.

Government, he said, will put up rapid skills development centres across the country. 

Furthermore, Mr Molebatsi stated that part three emphasised ownership of assets and that transferring of shares to non-targeted citizens would be prohibited because people would get them through empowerment schemes.

Khoemacau mine general manager, Mr Kevin Moxham stated that the company believed in community development, hence always ploughing back into the society. 

The mine, he said, had been engaging local suppliers to undertake some works for surface infrastructure, adding that even in the production phase, they were supporting some local suppliers.

The mine community liaison officer, Ms Ontitile Zimona said their focus was more into education, community development, local procurement and creation of employment.

She revealed that they did well in the surface infrastructure as they hired a significant number of locals, while on the production phase, they had brought on board some local suppliers to deliver goods such as eggs, vegetables and meat, among others.

She also explained that they had introduced an initiative to promote academic excellence in schools within their area of operation. 

Ms Zimona also stated that the mine, in collaboration with BoFInet, had connected WiFi at Komana and donated a classroom block and furniture to Legotlhwane primary schools. Ends