Tsau: Nxhae Komotsae, a single mother of Tsau village in Okavango Sub district was last week dealt an early Christmas as she was presented with a house worth P100.000 by Cresta Riley’s General Manager Ngonidzashe Shumba on behalf of Cresta Marakanelo Group of Hotels.
The gesture was part of Cresta Group’s corporate social responsibility. The beneficiary also had her yard fenced, a pit latrine built and was given an assortment of groceries and furniture by the group.
Speaking at a well attended event attended by among others stakeholders from Botswana Housing Corporation, Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Police Services as well as the district leadership, Shumba noted that under the social aspect of their social responsibility policy, Cresta Marakanelo is committed to the support of vision 2016 pillars by way of working alongside with various government entities in addressing some of the vision pillars. He said they are committed to taking voluntary steps at improving the quality of lives of the society at large, with specific reference to the local communities within which they operate, while they also take time to learn, respect and support the culture of such communities.
“As you may be aware, the d├®cor and themes at all our hotels are influenced by the activities carried out on day to day basis by communities who surround us as we believe they are an important stakeholder in the success of our brand. We do not only exist to make profits, but to also extend our hand to the very people who continue to help us go up the ladder”, he said.
To date, he said Cresta Marakanelo has donated over P2.5 million to Masiela Trust Fund since its inception in 2001.They have also donated bedding and toiletries to the Kagisong Society Women’s Shelter in Gaborone and Maun, Camphill in Otse, Francistown and Tlokweng SOS as well as to Kasane and Bamalete Lutheran Hospital. Maun’s Women Against Rape Shelter also received bedroom furniture and bedding, while a five roomed house was donated to a less privileged family in Francistown, to mention just a few.
Shumba said they intend to spread their wings to all the places where there is a Cresta hotel so that there may be a notable impact of compassion in communities living around such areas. He commended the village chief Ebineng Potsoeng for facilitating the legal acquisition of the plot and the Social and Community Development at Maun Administration Authority for their active involvement in identifying the beneficiary. The area Member of Parliament Thato Kwerepe also expressed gratitude and thanked Cresta Marakanelo for their good gesture of availing themselves and supporting communities around them. He advised Komotsae to take good care of the donated house as it has given her the dignity she so much deserves.
