22 Jun 2023

The donation of 5 700 blankets by the World Group of Companies is an example of how the Public Private Partnership model can be used to assist government in developing the country and citizens, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Kgotla Autlwetse has said.

Speaking at an event to receive a donation of blankets from the World Group of Companies in Gaborone on Wednesday, Minister Autlwetse commended the group for its active involvement in the development of the country.

The company’s investment is not only in human resource development but extended to the health sector where they constructed and delivered two clinics in Bobirwa and in Boteti, he said.

He said the donation would impact positively the ministry in terms of savings and in advancing the mandate of enhancing the quality of life of Batswana. Mr Autlwetse said another gesture by the World Group of Companies of donating school uniforms to primary schools in rural and remote areas countrywide was in line with the government’s priority to protect the most vulnerable groups.

“I joined you in the Okavango Region and Central District, where I saw firsthand, souls revived and hope restored in students, teachers, PTA and VDCs through giving”, he said. 

The minister said the blankets would be distributed to the most vulnerable groups across the 31 district councils translating to about 184 blankets to each.

He said the destitute programme was categorised into two to benefit permanent and temporary destitute persons, adding that government was taking care of 37 096 under the permanent category and 3 582 under the latter, with a cumulative annual expenditure of P290 million.

Therefore, he said, the gesture should be an encouragement to others to come on board for Botswana to achieve prosperity for all. Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Imraan Sardar said the donation was done with the hope of keeping the less privileged members of the society warm during the winter season.

He said giving back was one of the values and principles that they held close and had become the cornerstone of their brand.

He said as a group, they did as much as they could to make a difference. He said with help and support, they could provide essential services that the less fortunate needed and hopefully improve their quality of life. Ends