07 Nov 2023

Khoemacau Copper Mine has injected P40 000 towards this year’s Mr and Miss RADP pageant for North West District Council. 

The mine’s community and stakeholder coordinator, Ontifile Zimona said during the event in Maun on Saturday, that they had been part of the pageant since last year.

“We are excited to be part of the event this year and giving more to make it bigger and better.  

And we appreciate that last year, one of the participants from Somelo, a village within our area of operation, was crowned Miss RADP at the national level,” she said.

She therefore appealed to other private entities and other stakeholders to come on board and augment government’s efforts to grow the pageant. 

She said the private sector should play a role through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes to brand the pageant as government alone could not afford. 

Zimona added that other private entities should support such initiatives as it was also aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods in rural areas as the event attracted contestants from four settlements in the district, namely, Somelo, Phuduhudu, Khwai and Mababe. 

She said they wanted to see more contestants from the district excelling. She said the Mr and Miss RADP initiative was a welcome development as it sought to unearth talent among young people, promote behavioural change among other things.

North West District Council chairperson, Itumeleng Kelebetseng, urged winners to  utilise the platform they had been given to bring changes in their areas by encouraging their peers to  utilise opportunities availed to them by government.

He said the pageant was not only about having a pretty face, but it was  also about having a great mind and compassionate spirit.  

Social Services and Community Development chairperson, Tswelelo Sebati thanked government for the initiative. He also appreciated that the pageant had adopted very high standards as it used best judges and rules were followed to the letter. 

Meanwhile, Shirley Nyama from Khwai was crowned Miss RADP followed by Pearl Masalela from Phuduhudu while Tswelelo Molepo from Somelo took the second princess position. 

Under the male category, Tshepiso Dodo of Mababe was crowned the prince while Khwai lads, Kamogelo Galeboife and William Gabotsenwe emerged first and second princes respectively. 

All the winners walked away with price money ranging from P5 000, P3 000, P2 000 respectively, courtesy of Khoemacau mine. 

The winners will slug it out with other contestants from other areas at the pageant grand finale to be held in Gaborone on November 25. ENDS