Machailo-Ellis pledges support for Orapa SME project
Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday August 13, 2014 09:36
“While the organisation that I serve, BOCCIM, is responsible for policy dialogue with the government to promote a conducive business environment that allows the private sector to grow and contribute to economic development in Botswana, I have a passion for SMMEs and entrepreneurship development.
“With that, I would like to pledge my support for these particular initiatives, mainly SMMEs. I will personally assist them with ideas to grow their ventures,” she said when officiating at the annual Debswana’s Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) General Manager’s sponsored charity walk in Orapa on Saturday.
SMMEs play a vital role in every economic landscape. Some common shortcomings of SMME’s, however, such as poor maximisation of ventures’ potential make it difficult for some SMMEs to prosper.
Machailo-Ellis said BOCCIM will make sure that as Debswana implements the ‘Orapa today Boteti tomorrow’ initiative, it enjoys good relations with and support from the government.
The mine should also draw a comprehensive plan that will ensure that everryone in the Boteti area benefits from the initiative once it is fully functioning, she advised.
The ‘Orapa today Boteti’ tomorrow project, which is yet to take shape, is intended to boost the mine to becoming the commercial hub of Boteti, bringing income opportunities to all within the district (Boteti). It is backed by Debswana’s OLDM.
The project covers numerous areas such as; the building a museum that documents the impact diamonds have had on Boteti, and to the whole nation.
The game park in Orapa will be expanded. Other initiatives include the introduction of an information centre, cinema and the development of Orapa training school as well as a business park.
Machailo-Ellis also called on the business community and citizens help government in the fight against poverty.
“I hasten to say that whilst government is the overall custodian of poverty eradication programmes, we need every development including the business fraternity and citizens to support poverty eradication initiatives. If all stakeholders can play a meaningful contribution in the fight against poverty we will see Botswana realising her goal of eradicating poverty,” she said.
The OLDM GM’s charity walk has taken place for over a decade and all proceeds raised go towards a charity in the Boteti region.
Meanwhile, Debswana OLDM GM Adrian Gale said in this year alone, the company has spent P3.5 million on supporting communities in the Boteti region in areas such as education, health, education, environment and sports.