19 Aug 2024

Women in Mining Botswana Organisation (WIMBO) has elected Ms Esther Kanaimba-Senai as its new chairperson during the Annual General Meeting held on Saturday in Gaborone. In her opening remarks, Ms Kanaimba-Senai commitment to continuous assessment of committee members regarding their assignment deliverables and attendance at meetings.

Reflecting on the past challenges of the organisation, she acknowledged that WIMBO had previously ‘carried people along’ despite subpar performances.

“Members should brace themselves for serious consequences if they are not delivering,” she asserted, signaling a new era of accountability within the organisation.

Ms Kanaimba-Senai’s leadership team includes deputy chairperson Ms Gorata McKennon, treasurer Ms Christine Ntlhwaile, and three additional members: Messrs Hazel Reaitsanye, Boitumelo Ntsosa, and Eunice Motlhalamme. Notably, the position of secretary remains vacant, but Ms Kanaimba-Senai promised swift action, stating that a resolution to fill the role would be finalised within the next week through consultations with all WIMBO members.

Ms Kanaimba-Senai also shared insights into the organisation’s accomplishments and challenges thus far. She highlighted WIMBO’s founding vision of empowering women in the mining sector and harnessing their potential, underscoring the organization’s ongoing commitment to support and elevate women in this critical industry.

She said the journey began in 2018 and was guided by Botswana Chamber of Mines, following a drive from the African Union, for members states to elevate the issue of women in mining to the national agenda.

She cited Mrs Nametso Ntsosa-Carr, as one of those who attended the formative meetings in Ghana and Uganda, which resulted in the decision to establish women in mining associations at national, regional and continental levels.

Ms Kanaimba-Senai said at present WIMBO was a member of SADC Women in Mining, based in Gaborone, and the Africa Women in Mining headquartered in Accra, Ghana.

"The journey has not been without setbacks, chief among them, the COVID-19 pandemic. This put a stop to the efforts that had gained momentum. Post COVID-19, the efforts to form WiMBO resumed and these culminated in the establishment in November 2022, of the Interim Executive Committee, which she chaired," she said.

The Interim Committee had the full support of the diamond mining corporates in Botswana, Debswana Diamond Company and Lucara Botswana, adding that the two entities even co-opted two of their senior managers on to the Interim Executive and are still members to date, she said.

The chairperson further said the committee benefitted immensely from insights from a diamond mining perspective. She said the biggest highlight of 2023, was the hosting of the inaugural Women in Mining Pitso in Palapye driven primarily by Ministry of Minerals and Energy,

She said the event marked the launch of WIMBO, to the public and the mining community in its totally, which included its entire value chain.

The second biggest highlight was the registration of WIMBO with the Registrar of Societies in August 2023, an official recognition that established a legal framework that allowed them to conduct their operations in a transparent manner and in accordance with national regulations, she said.

Additionally, she said the registration enhanced their credibility, allowing them to effectively engage with stakeholders and pursue funding opportunities that required formal organisational status.

As for membership growth, she said their membership drive began in late 2023 and now stands at 72 fully paid members who each contributed P500 and P250 for students as annual subscriptions.

Ms Kanaimba-Senai further said Debswana has made a contribution to register 60 of their members into WIMBO, citing that they were waiting for them to submit the names of those who will become members.

She encouraged other corporates to do the same, adding that WIMBO members were not only increasing in number, but also in diversity and expertise as well as age. 

She said they were hosting Pitso, their signature event, this Thursday and Friday at the Grand Aria Hotel, which was an event they were prepared to host it every year. Ends