06 Nov 2021

Mascom has donated P139 000 to SOS Botswana following the 2021 Mascom Batanani Walk.  

Mascom Batanani Walk is a charitable project whose theme this year is Standing Together for the Protection of Children. 

Beneficiaries are identified through the social and community development office.

Handing over the donation in Francistown on Friday, Mascom chief executive officer, Ms Dzene Makhwade-Seboni, said Batanani represented unity,adding that it was a fundamental value that made people to stand together in times of need. 

She said although COVID-19 altered the way things were done in the past, Mascom had done its best to adhere to health protocols as evidenced by the first virtual walk.

Despite all the challenges, Mascom continued with the walk and generated over P139 000 that was donated to SOS Children’s’ Village.

Ms Makhwade-Seboni noted that proceeds from the 2019 event were directed to gender based violence while in 2020, they donated to Jubilee Psychiatric Hospital.

She said it was imperative for all to participate in such initiatives since they were beneficial to the communities. She appreciated the support from Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and Botswana Defence Force,

SOS national director, Mr Motshwari Kitso, said child protection was everybody’s business. He said  2021 was a tough year due to COVID-19.

He said half of the village was turned into a COVID-19 isolation center at one point and all care givers, parents and children survived.

In their mitigation plan, they closed the community from entering the village and this affected donations.

“We operate on a huge budget of over P26 million, with 50 per cent from international friends and supporters while P13 million is from local coffers, being from government and fund raising activities.”

He highlighted that there was de-institutionalisation process going on to help raise the children within the community.

Mr Kitso urged the community to be prepared to embrace them. He said over 697 children graduated from SOS.

Francistown mayor Mr Godisang Radisigo, said the private sector  was key to development of the communities and the economy. “In focusing our role on the economy, we have always emphasized the role and participation of private sector in rebuilding our country,” he said.

He congratulated Mascom for going all out to assist communities. Mr Kitso urged all to take this initiative seriously. Ends