23 Nov 2021

Khoemacau Copper Mine through one of its contractors Concor Botswana recently handed over a poultry project to Sehithwa Village Development Committee (VDC).

The project valued at about P400 000 comprises four equipped poultry shelters with 400 chicken layers.

Speaking at the handing over at Sehithwa, Maun Administration Authority Acting Senior Assistant Secretary Mr Daniel Olerilwe expressed gratitude for the project, which he said was in line with the council’s pillars of self-reliance and resilience.

He expressed confidence that the Sehithwa VDC would  manage the project well as VDC members were trained on accountability before resuming office. 

Boseja North Councilor, also the council’s community development and social services chairperson Mr Limit Banyatsang said that the project would help uplift the Sehithwa community.

Mr Banyatsang encouraged the VDC to ensure that the project grew and became sustainable.

Giving background of the project, Concor Botswana Director Mr Jay Juganan said his company had been in existence for many years and had been  contracted by Khoemacau since 2014 for developments at the mine.

As such, the Khoemacau Copper Mine management advised Concor Botswana to contribute to corporate social responsibility, which led to the birth of Sehithwa poultry project.

Mr Juganan said the company constructed the four shelters for the poultry project and contributed 400 chicken layers.

Khoemacau Copper Mine Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Johan Ferreira said the copper mine wanted to see communities in its locality having sustainable projects that would improve livelihoods.

“The Khoemacau Copper Mine strategy is development and empowerment by teaching the community how to catch a fish instead of giving the communities fish and that is teaching the Sehithwa VDC how to keep chickens, produce eggs and maximise profits,” he said.

The project, he said required business practices such as book keeping and record keeping for it  to be a success.

Mr Ferreira said that the VDC needed capacity building to have a change of mindset to adopt a commercial model, adding that the copper mine company would ensure the VDC members were capacitated hopefully next year.

He also observed that the VDC members were volunteers and had other responsibilities therefore said that there was need to employ people who would  be responsible for the poultry project while the VDC acted as a board.

The mine’s CEO also said that a similar poultry project would be extended to neighbouring villages of Komana, Somelo, Legothwana and Toteng.

Mr Ferreira noted that the Khoemacau Copper Mine which had about 1 600 employees required about 3 200 eggs on a daily basis, therefore the company would be able to buy from the communities once production became sustainable.

Sehithwa VDC Chairperson Mr Prince Njarakana expressed his delight for the project and implored the community to support the project by buying eggs from them. ENDS