OLDM pledges P4.4m for Boteti community projects

Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) will invest funds amounting to BWP4.4 million towards sustainable community projects in Boteti during 2021. This investment forms part of the company’s wider Corporate Social Investment Program (CSI) for the zones of influence.

OLDM General Manager, Bakani Motlhabani announced this at a recent stakeholder briefing of the Boteti Sub District Council. Motlhabani further explained that the approved funds will go towards supporting new and existing initiatives such as; a food security programme, the Boteti Diamond Dreams Academic Awards, a textile manufacturing project for People living with disabilities, and the development of a conservation park. He indicated that some of the project to be supported were initiated in 2020 and are progressing well.

In re-affirming Debswana’s commitment to community development for Boteti, the General Manager further disclosed to the council that the mine’s total Covid-19 community support alone for the 2020 financial year amounted to BWP 8.5 million,  while funds spent under the company’s Corporate Social Investment programme totalled BWP 13.6 million. He gave examples of key milestones achieved in 2020 under OLDM’s CSI program, which include the construction and handover of Letlhakane Primary Hospital Maternity ward, Continuous support to 34 schools  in Boteti region to mitigate Covid-19 impacts, procurement  and donation of medical supplies, equipment and PPE for the Boteti District Management Health Team, refurbishment of Mmatshumo Covid-19 isolation centre, provision of food parcels to communities during lockdown, construction of Tsienyane School special education block, among others.

Motlhabani also assured the Councillors that Orapa Mine Hospital will continue to fulfil its core mandate to provide health service in the Boteti region and serve as a referral hospital as part of Debswana’s overarching objective to support government’s health services delivery in the region.

At the same event, OLDM management handed over a donation of two (2) vehicles, a Toyota Corolla and a Mercedes Benz 7 seater to the District Health Management Team (DHMT)which will be instrumental in improving their COVID-19 contact tracing efforts.

In his closing remarks Motlhabani said “Our continuing support to the Boteti Community forms part of Debswana’s efforts to live up to its purpose of make life brilliant for the communities that we operate in, so that we can eventually realise our objective to create a lasting legacy of prosperity and resilience beyond the life of our mines”.