Debswana (OLDM) Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines held its annual long service award ceremony at the weekend to honor 68 of its employees who served the mine for 20, 25, 35 and 40 years.
The initiative is part of the mine’s efforts to appreciate the loyalty and perseverance of its workforce and to also transform itself into a high performance organisation.
Giving a key note address at the event, the Assistant Minister of Health, Dr Gloria Somolekae, showered accolades on the employees, saying that such an achievement illustrates their understanding of the importance of their role as individuals in contributing to the development of the company and the country at large.
“As you are aware Debswana’s vision is to become a global benchmark diamond business, and in pursuit of this, the company has launched a strategy to transform the company into a high performance organization, operating at global benchmark levels of performance and efficiency. I have no doubt that with your continued support, hard work, loyalty, determination, focus and drive, the Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa mines will be able to achieve its goals,” she said.
Dr Somolekae urged the employees to continue working diligently and ensure that they create a solid legacy within their various operations. She said that the knowledge that the employees have acquired over the years in their various vocations is highly valuable to the company and the nation. She further implored the employees to impart the knowledge on the younger generations to continue an even more sustainable future for coming generations.
“As you each deliver on your part of the Debswana long term business strategy, it is only befitting that you do so with pride, knowing the positive contribution you have made to the socio-economic development of this country,” she added.
She said that through demonstrating their loyalty and delivering results, they have a played a significant role in making Debswana sparkle as it continues to be Botswana’s success story. Diamonds being the largest single contributor to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Dr Somolekae said that they play a significant role in Botswana’s economic development.
“The footprints and value of Debswana as an organization are clear for all to see both within our country and internationally.
Having started as one of the poorest countries in the world in 1966, the role of diamonds in our economic development journey has been very important. The schools, roads, clinics, and all forms of infrastructure which have been built over the years have been financed mainly through the diamond revenues,” she said.
Dr Somolekae commended the Debswana management for its commitment to recognize its long service employees. She said that it is a clear evidence that the company’s management knows well that its human resource is its most critical asset.
Representing the award recipients, Kennedy Mathekela lauded Debswana for recognizing the role played by employees to its growth. He said that as Debswana employees, they have grown in various aspects of their careers and personal lives.
“Many of us came as school leavers, met our spouses while here and indeed our children qualify as true people of Orapa as they were born and raised here,” he said.
“I am also happy that through our combined efforts, we have significantly contributed into making Botswana the envy of other countries, in terms of its economic development and the provision of various necessary amenities for Batswana,” he said.
The event was held under the theme “Employee longevity and loyalty, a catalyst to delivering the High Performance Promise.”
