Firms urged to build more mining townships
Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday March 19, 2014 12:53
Moyo, who was the guest speaker, said instead of throwing in one house randomly, companies should actually build townships for the benefits of both workers and residents of adjacent villages.
He said such townships would become hives of activity that would help propel the economies of such villages and ultimately Botswana at large.
“These people (the companies) should revamp their social responsibility initiatives and consider building townships in areas they operate in to boost local economies and development in general,” he said.
The legislator believes that despite having invested lump sums of money into social responsibility programmes most mines in the country are not doing enough to support the communities they operate in.
For this reason he advised that they should consider building townships to boost economies and develop areas they operate in.
“If I had it my way, all mines operating in the country would be obliged to build townships in all areas in which they operate to support local economies.
“Other mines such as Debswana have built townships in areas in which they operate where they have helped boost economies.
“Even when they have ceased operating people in those areas will have a noticeable legacy”, the MP said. He added that when an area has been identified to start mining operations, most of the times residents have to relocate to pave way for the development of the mines.
He said however that they receive little benefits from the mines once in operation.
“What residents in the country get from the mines operating within their environment is far less than what the mines benefit.
“Most of the times they get donations which do not tally with the sacrifices they make to pave way for the developments of the mines.
That is why I have a view that local mines should consider building townships to boost the economy and develop communities as well as leave a tangible legacy once they have stopped operating,” he said.
In the 1960s, Debswana constructed the Orapa Township to accommodate its employees.
Years later, they did the same thing in Jwaneng, where there is a thriving township, made up of different localities.
Selebi Phikwe came into existence because of copper and nickel; minerals that were extracted in the vicinity of the township.
Selebi Phikwe was not constructed by the BCL Mining Company per se, but people were allocated plots to do business with both the mine and its employees. The employees bought from the shops that sprung up because of prospects of a good client base while the mine engaged customers for services rendered.
Sowa Township was constructed following the advent of BOTASH, the company that extracts soda ash and salt from the Sua Pan.