Companies, particularly of local origin, are increasingly playing a critical role in the development and promotion of sports, arts and culture. In the scheme of things, these sectors have for long suffered under-funding. The companies that readily come to mind, are particularly the major two cellular phone service providers, Mascom and Orange which have contributed immensely to these sectors. We have no doubt Be Mobile will soon join the club. Not to forget the support that is played by the media houses, all of which are locally-owned. In this instance, the importance of having indigenous firms is beyond doubt. Though multi-nationals play a role, smaller economies such as Botswana, are unfairly catered for in terms of assistance. We merely become appendages of major neighbouring economies.
That is not to say the multi-nationals are incapable of corporate social responsibility in Botswana. For instance, the Coca-Cola Cup has for long been synonymous with Botswana football, Shell with softball tournaments, Debswana with volleyball, National Development Bank and Metropolitan with chess and many others.
