In the spirit of corporate social investment, last week Kgalagadi Breweries (Pty) Ltd (KBL) and Botswana Breweries (Pty) Ltd (BBL) donated a recreational park that Kgalagadi Beverages Trust (KBT) developed at a cost of over P300 000 to the Gaborone City Council. The recreational park was designed for the community at large and was handed over to Gaborone Mayor, Veronica Lesole by Kgalagadi Beverages Trust, the social investment arm of Kgalagadi Breweries (Pty) Ltd and Botswana Breweries (Pty) Ltd.
Aptly named Kgalagadi Beverages Trust Recreational Park, the development is situated in Block 3, opposite KBL, and measures approximately four thousand square meters. The recreational park is situated in what was previously wildly vegetated, unkempt land that was in need of serious revitalization to also quell the possibility of this spot being turned into a haven for undesirable elements, such as criminals and delinquents.
The park also borders a residential area where school going kids wait for public transport on what is a very busy traffic spot along the Broadhurst industrial site main road.
KBT transformed the unsavoury piece of land into a community recreational park resplendent with gardens and play areas for kids, together with modern landscaping, greenery, thatched rest shades, and a kiddie’s play area (swings, slides, monkeynastics, a miniature volleyball pitch, etc).
Welcoming dignitaries and guests at the handover ceremony, KBL and BBL Managing Director, Hloni Matsela, said, “We at KBL and BBL are proud of our relationship with the Gaborone City Council and, indeed, the government of Botswana in so far as they allow us to impact our communities in a lasting and meaningful way.”
Gaborone Mayor Lesole commended Kgalagadi Beverages Trust and the financing companies, KBL & BBL, for their unwavering support to modernize the park, citing the undoubted societal obligation shown by the companies.
She further urged private entities to emulate Kgalagadi Beverages Trust, BBL and KBL by continuing to engage their Corporate Social Investment initiatives in order to propel Botswana’s pace towards the country’s Long Term Vision: ‘Prosperity for all by 2016.’
Benefitting communities is one of the ten key sustainable development priorities for BBL and KBL and has compelled them to contribute to a wide range of projects that address pressing needs of communities in which they operate. KBT has over the years contributed to and supported various corporate social investment initiatives of impact, including KickStart, the SOS and The Business Place, to name a few. Matsela said that the Kgalagadi Beverages Trust Recreational Park will help to make a difference to the community and express the companies’ social responsibility as they strive to create a better future by supporting our local communities.
