19 May 2024

Private sector participation remains key in augmenting government’s efforts to address societal challenges.

This was said by North West District Council deputy secretary, Ms Kebalepile Horatius at the handing over of food hampers worth over P15 000 donated by Infinite Fitness Centre in collaboration with other sponsors to 23 needy families in Maun over the weekend.

Ms Horatius said private sector participation was critical because government alone could not manage to address challenges that communities continued to be faced with. 

She therefore hailed Infinite Fitness Centre and other sponsors for augmenting government’s efforts towards assisting the needy and vulnerable members of the society.

She appreciated the donation saying it would make a huge difference in the lives of the beneficiaries, given that the gesture was also adding to the council’s mandate to provide welfare support and social safety net to needy communities.

“Through the donation, we are addressing the pillar of providing opportunities for social inclusion and this is an encompassing pillar because it promotes fitness and health well-being,” she said.

She added that the council was also making efforts to encourage community members to engage in available economic empowerment programmes for sustainable livelihoods.

For his part, the council chairperson, Mr Itumeleng Kelebetseng also thanked the donors, mostly comprising the business community, for the food hampers and for planting back their profits into communities they operated in.

Mr Kelebetseng indicated that government was encouraging partnerships towards improving the quality livelihoods of marginalised communities because the needy required support to feel part of the society.

He said the council had a charity fund designed to address the dire need within the community and thus appealed to the private sector to support the fund.

“You can partner with the council to raise funds which will be invested into community activities aimed to assist the needy people in our region,” he added.

He also urged the private sector and the community to assist in other societal challenges such as drug and substance abuse and lack of decent shelter for some community members.

“Many people are economically challenged and lack habitable shelter while some stay in the streets because of family conflicts. I believe that we can join forces to see how best we can assist them,” he said.

He further appreciated Botswana Red Cross Society for doing a good job to assist those in need of shelter with tents.However, he expressed concern that such development had stirred squatting in some areas.

On drug and substance abuse, he regretted how Maun was hard hit owing to addiction by young people, something he said also called for government and private sector collaboration to address the challenge.

“Young people seems to be the target of the drug menace and its abuse and I believe that together we can help in the fight against illicit drugs and ensure safety for all,” he added.

Infinite Fitness Centre director, Mr Reuben Chipuka said as part of their corporate social responsibility, they were compelled to give back to the community following a successful a Maun Easter powerlifting and body building championship event that was held in Maun in March.

“Our organisation together with our sponsors, we found it fit to demonstrate love and care to the community and we have many projects in the pipeline to undertake in collaboration with the council,” Mr Chipuka said.

He added that they had previously made donations at Sedie Ward and the aim was to extend a helping hand to all wards in Maun and other surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, he thanked all who made the donation possible and urge others to come on board and make a positive impact in the community. ends