Debswana?s Orapa and Letlhakane Mines handed over the road linking Letlhakane Village to the Orapa- Francistown road to the Central District Council, as part of its social corporate responsibility to communities that it operates from.
The 10.9 kilometre tarred-road is replete with modern construction works, such as culverts, storm water drains, cattle grid, bus bay and fencing. It was built by the mining company at a cost of P 22 million and comes after repeated demands by the community to CDC but without success. They submitted requests to the CDC but the project failed because of lack of funds.
Speaking at the ceremony Orapa/ Letlhakane Mines General Manager, Sebetela Sebetela, said the road was ?proof of Debswana?s commitment to community development and corporate social responsibility? and their partnership with government in national development.
He praised Debswana for continuously living up to its social responsibility slogan of ?Show We Care? which drives its contribution to national development. Sebetela said Debswana?s social responsibility is aligned to local, regional and national levels mainly because of the central role in the national economy.
Last year, Debswana spent P 35.5 million on corporate social investment which included Orapa-Letlhakane and Damtshaa roads.
Some of Debswana?s corporate social responsibility programmes include an annual investment of P 100 million on its hospitals, schools, clinics and infrastructure development which are also accessible and beneficial to local communities.
The company also has a partnership with government in a project to provide ARVs at Orapa and Jwaneng mines. To date, the project has enrolled 2000 people.
Minerals and Energy Minister, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, welcome Debswana?s donation saying that ?it proved their commitment to using diamonds to develop the country so that citizens can also benefit directly from the industry.?
