Debswana’s Jwaneng Mine donated five houses to Lefhoko village in the Mabutsane Sub-District, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to partnering with local communities.
Through the e-project, Debswana has positively impacted the community, which is now using accumulated rental income to undertake another development project.
Jwaneng Mine engages communities to assess its impact through a stakeholder engagement process, Corporate Affairs Manager at Jwaneng Mine, Lorato Charity Thite said.
She said the leadership of Lefhoko village – 28 kilometers (km) south of Jwaneng –
requested accommodation due to a shortage, which has resulted in fewer public servants in the village.
“The unavailability of police officers, a tribal administrator, and nurses because of lack of accommodation meant that community members travelled long distances to access public services,” Thite said.
“When I assumed the Chieftaincy, there was no services provision in relation to police officers and tribal administrators because of lack of accommodation,” said Kgosi Biki Nthomang.
He said Jwaneng Mine visits communities to assess the impact they have on them.
“I informed Debswana of the challenges we face.”
In 2014, Lefhoko chieftaincy was legally recognised by government, resulting in the appointment of Kgosi Nthomang.
The project was handed over to the Mabutsane Sub-District Council to ensure the properties directly benefit the Lefhoko village community.
Khumo Peloyame, Chairperson of the Village Development Committee (VDC) in Lefhoko, said the VDC manages the houses, dubbed ‘Diamond Village’. The VDC rents out the houses and deposits the funds into a community account, where they are saved to finance future development projects.
Thite added that Jwaneng Mine financed and monitored the project as well as participated in each stage of construction.
“We engaged with the tribal authority and the VDC to give them an insight into financial management and governance for them to save the rentals to further develop the community,” she highlighted.
A builder in Lefhoko said the house plans included two bedrooms, a lounge and kitchen, bathrooms as well as fitted wall wardrobes. Ontobetse Beisane Peloyame said a plan was issued and as a builder, he was expected to stick to the specifications.
A nurse posted to Lefhoko in 2021 said he was impressed by the quality of accommodation he found in the village.
“I feared I was going to rent accommodation outside Lefhoko, which would be inconvenient for me. When one has a convenient and comfortable accommodation it makes life easier, I can attend medical emergency calls conveniently even if it is after hours,” said Thabang Semoko who works at Lefhoko Health Post.
The views are shared by another public servant, Milidzani Jaros Mbulawa, the village police officer.
“Good accommodation contributes to productivity and not only to police officers but any worker,” Mbulawa stated.
The ‘Diamond Village’ plays a significant role in the development of Lefhoko village in terms of infrastructural development as well as accommodating public servants, according to Mr Peloyame.
For her part, the VDC Chairperson said they had targeted saving up to P100 000, before undertaking another developmental project.
“We currently have about P130 000 which we have saved over a period of 6 years. We are commencing another project of building a community complex,” she said, delighted that they exceeded the P100 000 target.
