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2022: Selebi-Phikwe’s new dawn?

Looking into the future: Phikwe’s economic prospects are at their brightest point since BCL’s closure PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES
Looking into the future: Phikwe’s economic prospects are at their brightest point since BCL’s closure PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES

In October 2016, the then president of Botswana, Seretse Khama Ian Khama, removed Kitso Mokaila as the Minister of Minerals, Water and Energy Resources and replaced him with Sadique Kebonang.

A few days later BCL Mine, which was the lifeblood of the town I grew up in called Selebi-Phikwe, was closed.

At least 5,000 direct jobs disappeared, many more indirect jobs suffered, companies closed down, unemployment skyrocketed, suicides were reported in large numbers and general gloom and doom covered the town.

Editor's Comment
Depression is real; let's take care of our mental health

It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...

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