28 Feb 2022

The idea to construct a sports facility in Palapye signifies foresightedness by Morupule Coal Mine (MCM) as it underscores government’s key employment drive captured in the 2022 budget speech, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development has said.

Officiating at the multi-purpose stadium ground-breaking ceremony on Friday, Minister Kgotla Autlwetse said MCM’s outward thinking narrative pounded on the ideals of the national budget and of the government.

He commended MCM leadership saying though the mine was wholly government owned, it was self-reliant on its product.

He said there was self-evaluation and ownership of shortcomings in the form of failure to utilise for maximum benefit, hence the birth of Motheo Project in August 2019, an open cast coal mine and coal washing facilities fully funded by the mine.

Autlwetse said government coffers were not as sound as were previously, hence the need for mind-set change.

He challenged the mine to be a contributor to the economy noting ‘the Asian market yawns for our coal, Southern Africa awaits too. Seize the opportunity and rescue our dwindling economic fortunes.’

Autlwetse said the expansion of MCM impacted directly on the lives of Batswana and gave an example of Motheo Project which created more than 900 employment opportunities since September 2019, adding that the mine had empowered citizen owned companies through direct engagement and localised procurement, thus answering to President’s overarching RESET AGENDA goal Citizen Economic Inclusion.

The minister challenged MCM leadership to aggressively mobilise youth to take advantage of developing their sporting talent by making use of the facility and urged Central District Council to fully utilise the facility by making it an economic spinner for both the region and themselves, once complete.

MCM general manager, Edwin Elias, said construction of the stadium would be completed at a cost of P25 million in a period of eight months.

He said the partnership between MCM and local government ministry was a legacy for posterity that revealed the achievement of the national endeavour to contribute to the growth and development of the country.

Elias said construction of the stadium was in line with the mine’s corporate social investment, with a focus on community development particularly sport, culture and heritage.

He said MCM carried a pure sentiment of pride as the leading coal energy business that for many years made significant contribution to the economic development of Botswana noting that they desired for the coal to be transformed into unlimited sources of energy that would transform Botswana from an upper middle-income to a high income country.

Motheo project, Elias said, was a massive leap into the production and beneficiation efforts of the massive coal resources with the project expected to increase current production of 2.8 million tonnes to 4.2 million tonnes of coal per annum.

Additionally he said, the construction of the stadium is in line with their corporate social investment with a focus on community development particularly sport, culture and heritage.

Motheo senior project manager, Lefika Moagi, said Excavator Hire Construction, a 100 per cent owned company, was appointed for the project to be done in phases.

Member of Parliament for Palapye, Onneetse Ramogapi appreciated MCM for developing Palapye and asked that the community be considered for employment in the project. ENDs