Debswana injects P1.5m in Lefhoko village
Lebogang Baingapi | Tuesday March 7, 2017 16:52
The project named Lefhoko Diamond Village came handy as an answer to shortage of accommodation for public servants who are posted to work there.
The mine’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) chairman, Tumelo Ntlhayakgosi said the project affirmed their partnership with communities, which is a core essence of their business. He said their investment focused more on community projects that have the ability to be self-sufficient beyond the mine’s closure.
“We drive this principle through capacity-building and skills development in various fields with a huge bias to community projects having a potential to benefit majority of the people. Our CSI policy, however, does not support political, religious, individuals and profit-making enterprises,” he explained.
Ntlhayakgosi said the handover of the five houses affirmed their commitment to socio-economic partnerships and demonstration to empower communities. He highlighted that after a vigorous assessment five LA2 houses to ameliorate public servants accommodation shortage in Lefhoko was constructed.
“Collectively, we saw an opportunity to pilot the diamond village model in Lefhoko, anchored primarily on its beneficiation aspect through monthly rentals religiously accruing to the Village Development Committee (VDC),” he said.
The general manager for Jwaneng Mine, Albert Milton also explained that shortage of accommodation for police officers and employees from the ministry of health came as concern as they took long to resume their duties in Lefhoko. He said the rentals from the houses will be channelled towards socio-economic development that will eventually transform the landscape of Lefhoko.
He assured that the rental for tenants to VDC will be deducted directly from source thus ensuring cash flow sustainability of the project.
“While this project is not for an individual but for the community, our fervent believe is that it drives the same sentiments and aspiration as the presidential housing appeal, for it actualises the ideals of the nation towards socio-economic prosperity for all,” Milton said.
The mine sourced architectural services from Lefhoko village and further engaged locals to construct the project without engaging a contractor, thus empowering the locals.
Gender mainstreaming was also promoted as more women were taken in for the project construction. Milton encouraged the VDC to take care of the noble houses and further pledged to build another P1.5 million worth of kitchen for Lefhoko Primary School this year.
Currently the school does not have a kitchen and it is difficult to feed learners during rainy seasons.
“We will soon hand over another fully-furnished tribal administration office in Tsonyane village and upgrade their clinic to improve its service provision.
In Maboane, we will hand over a water reservoir and an equipped borehole to the community, which will significantly improve water reticulation in the village. While in Mahotshwane we will hand over a kgotla office block,” Milton outlined.
The general manager revealed that this year, they will invest close to P10 million in community projects within their zone of influence.