06 Jun 2023

Khoemacau Copper Mine has agreed to tar the gravel road that passes through Toteng village to the mine site.

The plans to improve the road are at an advanced stage  and an advert of expression on interest has been published.

Maun West Member of Parliament, Mr Dumelang Saleshando informed Toteng residents during a kgotla meeting, adding that the decision came after engaging the mine authorities on the matter.

He said once companies showed interest, adjudication process, would be conducted to pave way for awarding of a tender sometime this month. He said he was hopeful that construction would commence by September.

Mr Saleshando said tarring of the road would be a welcome development as residents had long decried the road condition and the dust caused by the mine’s trucks and high traffic volume.

He also allayed residents’ fears regarding the reports about the mine being sold. He said the mine management had confirmed intention of owners to sell operation, adding that it did not mean the mine was collapsing as some might have alluded. 

Residents learnt that Khoemacau mine investors were seeking potential buyers for the mine and that the process would not affect its operations.  Located in the Kalahari copper belt that stretches from north-east Botswana to western Namibia, Khoemacau mine commenced production in June 2021.

Mr Saleshando said the mine was committed to uplifting communities around the mine as management continually engaged them on developments as well as local authorities.

He thanked the mine for donation of a layer poultry projects to villages of Toteng and Komana where it injected some capital to buy 400 layer chickens, four chicken houses, feed, water tanks and medication for each village with an aim to empower the community.

The projects were currently supplying individuals, schools with Khoemacau mine being the major patron. He urged residents to look after the projects and look for more market to increase their profit base and venture into other income generating projects.

“While I appreciate that the mine is the major buyer, I urge you to think outside the box and explore other available opportunities to boost your financial muscle,” he added.

Earlier on, Toteng Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson, Mr Thabo Simasiku informed the gathering that the poultry project was progressing well despite losing ten layers due to diseases last October.

The project, he said produced 360 eggs a day of which they supplied mine with 4 200 eggs.

He appreciated that the project was a relief to VDC as they were financially challenged adding that they used part of the profit to renovate VDC houses which were old and dilapidated.

Some residents decried low numbers of residents employed at the mine, noting that they had pinned their hopes on the project and anticipated that it would create more jobs for residents.

They said they hoped the mine would help improve the livelihoods of the community by absorbing more youths.

In response, Mr Saleshando informed them that the mine had confirmed to have employed locals, and even furnished him with statistics  ENDS