11 Feb 2024

Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane has urged all businesses in the country to pay better salaries and complement government’s efforts to improve the lives of Batswana.

Mr Tsogwane made the appeal at the 20th Choppies Big Birthday Bonanza prize giving ceremony Friday evening in Gaborone.

“I want to appeal to all businesses to try and make sure that they pay better salaries, they pay more than the minimum wage. I am appealing to all in the country. I urge all employees in the same tone to work hard and produce good results, be productive so that businesses can prosper and you will be paid better,” he said.

Mr Tsogwane said government was grateful for companies like Choppies who turned their profits into life improving, poverty eradication tools that complemented government’s efforts.

He said the Choppies Big Birthday Bonanza was not just a competition but a life-changing event and a best real time example of many great Choppies corporate social responsibility stories.

“Over the years, the winnings from this noble competition have seen many lives of ordinary Batswana change for the positive. I have seen many personal testimonies where some indicate that with the cash prize monies received they bought livestock and ventured into commercial farming whilst some have used their winnings to advance their already existing small businesses,” he added.

He said since 2003 winners had driven home with brand new Chevrolet, Hyundai, utility bakkies and cash prizes.

Mr Tsogwane said the initiative was in line with government’s vision and mission to assist Batswana.

He said initiatives like the bonanza would see Batswana prospering and conquering economical adversities especially during hard economic times.

“As we celebrate the 20th edition of the competition we must acknowledge the immense life-changing effect this initiative has in the lives of Batswana. Choppies since inception, has been a beckoning light to its customers, a shining example of corporate social responsibility in Botswana through its countless social development programmes such as participating in the national housing appeal, supplier inclusion, community socio-economic ventures and their shared value initiatives”, he said.

Mr Tsogwane handed keys of a brand new Mercedes Benz to Ms Dimpho Rabasimane of Molapowabojang who won the grand prize.

Five lucky winners drove away in brand new Nissan Navara bakkies and 97 other lucky customers walked away with P15 000 cash prizes.

Choppies also awarded 20 of its staff members P10 000 each as part of the competition celebrations.

For his part Choppies Group Chief Executive Officer Mr Ramachandran Ottapathu applauded his management and staff for continuously adding value to the lives of Batswana throughout the years.

He urged Batswana to support their efforts and help them grow and serve them better. ENDS