15 Sep 2024

As a move to drive citizen empowerment Debswana came up with a socio-economic initiative dubbed Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme aimed at driving citizen inclusion within the company’s supply chain.

The objective was to create an enabling business environment, supporting citizen entities and preferential procurement, with the aim to create employment and diversify the economy.

Through its CEEP commitment Debswana spent P20.89 billion on citizen spend across all the company operations, and P6.6 billion with citizen companies at Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines since 2019 as at July 2024.

OLDM CEEP commitment provides opportunities for citizen companies operating in Boteti to provide services to the mine which contributes to an increased economic activity and job creation.

In an endeavour to implement economic inclusion act, supply of goods and services were procured from suppliers in Boteti region, leading to an increase of business partners engaged by Debswana.

Additionally, Debswana through its partnership with Stanbic provides grants valued at P1 million annually to local SMMEs over the next five (5) years.

OLDM Senior Corporate Affairs Officer, Ms Dineo Seleke said CEEP programme led to 113 companies accessing funding, with 67 delivering goods and services at OLDM and 24 companies are those based at OLDM area of influence.

This translates into 36 per cent of those who accessed funding.

The recent survey conducted midyear 2024 indicates that 16, 989 jobs are supported through the CEEP, while OLDM was supporting 3, 116 jobs as per July 2024 man-hours report.

Local companies that benefitted from CEEP among others include Cyberbeam, Legitimate Projects, Pola-Habour, Diamond Spectrum, Oddio Logix, Mangaung Capital, Equitaral Holdings, First Edition and Chit Investments.

Furthermore Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) transformation engagements are at an advanced stage with all OEMs in terms of their transformation, focusing mainly on 30 per cent citizen ownership minimum, citizen employment and management as well as local procurement.

With regards to localization of repairs which is part of the Jwaneng Mine Cut 8/9 Legacy Project Debswana committed to establish a repairs and rebuild centre through a partnership model.

Debswana in partnership with BITC have recently completed a feasibility study for the establishment of a repairs and rebuild centre, in an effort to find the most efficient delivery of the project.

An expression of interest shall be issued in the coming months seeking public interest to partner in establish repairs and rebuild centre to partner in establishing a robust ecosystem encompasses SMEs, existing training facilities, such as OEM companies, in order to support vibrant trade support network and the appropriate investment approach.

Through CEEP, women account for 30 percent ownership of citizen companies doing business with Debswana and account for 34 percent of jobs supported.

Debswana through its CEEP Policy provides additional preference for women owned companies in an effort to grow women participation within Debswana value chain.

OLDM has embarked on various initiatives aimed at empowering women such as access to funding, capacity building, access to markets and local manufacturing summit 2024.

One of the beneficiaries of CEEP Ms Tshegofatso Motshebe who owns a construction and an electrician by profession said the programme has made a significant impact on her life and that of her employees.

Ms Motshebe won a tender to do maintenance of internal roads in Orapa at both white and green area, as much as to scare animals alongside the road from South Gate to H&J Supermarket.

She was assisted through CEEP to source funding from the bank to procure a vehicle to use at the site. Ms Motshebe aged 47 had an employ of 11 people. Ends