04 Jul 2022

The new Debswana managing director, Mr Andrew Motsomi on Wednesday touched base with the leadership of Jwaneng and the mine’s zones of influence, where he assured the area leadership of the company’s continued legacy in keeping good relations with them. 

Mr Motsomi, who ascended the seat at the beginning of June, further informed the area leadership that keeping good relations with the communities in the mine’s environs was not only beneficial to those communities, but the company as well. 

“The marketing and sale of diamonds does not just happen on its own, but depends on how a company such as Debswana treats its employees and communities in the area. 

So, keeping good relations with our communities cultivates a good image for Debswana globally, which then makes our diamonds easy to sell,” he said. 

Mr Motsomi also said as Debswana, it was vital that they left a legacy where they had activities. 

“It is, therefore, my wish to follow on the footsteps of all the past leaders of Debswana by always consulting the area leadership, hence my visit. 

I also want to assure you that there would not be any drastic changes in the way Debswana has been working with you, and if there are any changes at all, it will be for the better,” he said. 

Mr Motsomi also paid respects to the past immediate acting managing director, Ms Lynnette Armstrong for having steered the company during hard times of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Jwaneng township mayor, Ms Olga Ditsie appreciated the visit and said that it was an honour to the area that the managing director touched base while still new. 

She assured him that the relations between the Debswana Jwaneng mine and communities around had been good. 

“Good working relations are tried and tested during hard times like the COVID-19 pandemic, and I can assure you that Debswana passed with flying colours,” she said. 

Ms Ditsie cited, among others, an isolation centre that Debswana availed to Jwaneng community, which went on to even cater for other areas such as Kanye and Moshupa. 

She said the assistance Debswana often extended to communities was with the knowledge that its duty was not just to mine diamonds and leave.

Various dikgosi in attendance also appreciated Debswana’s assistance to their subjects, citing projects such as water provision, clinics construction and schools maintenance, among others. Ends