Orapa has been named the cleanest small town in Botswana, in the 2008 National Clean Up the World campaign, which was celebrated recently in Molepolole. The mining town beat 2007 winners Sowa Town and Jwaneng with a mark of 82% to take home the coveted trophy.
According to Kesego Kebelaele, the Mine’s Public and Corporate Affairs Manager, the title is a great honour for the Mines as it recognises their commitment to safety, health and environment issues.
Kebelaele said that the Mines place great emphasis on sustainable environmental practices, which is evidenced by a vibrant stakeholder engagement strategy employed by the Environmental Department of the Mines. According to Kebelaele, the strategy aims to extend sound environmental management beyond the mining operations and into the township area by mobilising employees, residents and the wider community to keep the town clean.
Kebelaele attributed the win of the cleanest small town competition to unfaltering community spirit displayed by the residents in the mobilisation campaign, adding that it is a demonstration of one of Debswana’s core values of “pull together” which encourages all to unite in purpose and action.
“We are truly honoured to have been named the cleanest small town in Botswana, and we intend to retain the title next year,” Kebelaele attested.
The Clean Up the World campaign is supported by the United Nations Environmental programme attracts over 40 million volunteers from 120 countries.
