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Botswana: BCL Lauded for Corporate Social Responsibility
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
11 April 2008
Posted to the web 14 April 2008
Mqondisi Dube
Selebi-Phikwe
BCL mine has been commended for its involvement in the town's diversification bid and visible corporate social investment programme.
New Minister of Lands and Housing, Nonofo Molefhi said during the official opening of a resurfaced road in Botshabelo on Friday that BCL had chosen to invest in the community it operates in. In a speech read on his behalf by the Selebi-Phikwe mayor Amogelang Mojuta, Molefhi said BCL had shown concern for the sustainability of the town through its involvement in the diversification initiative. The minister is the MP for Selebi-Phikwe East. He said BCL had relieved the Selebi-Phikwe Town Council of the duty of maintaining the road. The tarring cost P 1million.
"Sealed roads are much less maintenance intensive. This cost saving can now find alternative use elsewhere and that is investing in the community," Molefhi said. He added that increasing visibility of BCL's community involvement is seen in among others, the construction of an Infectious Disease Control Centre (IDCC) unit in Mmadinare, sponsoring the art and science fair and donating equipment to schools. BCL is currently rebuilding a house destroyed by fire in Botshabelo.
"It is through these actions that BCL will leave lasting footprints in this community. It is becoming increasingly obvious that business and community are equal partners in the advancement of greater society," Molefhi said. He added that business is not solely about making profits but about people and values as well. He commended BCL for its community projects, saying management is faced with tough decisions with increasing pressure to improve profits and be a good corporate citizen.
Molefhi said companies that had successfully incorporated Corporate Social Investment (CSI) into their business operations have reaped benefits. "They co-exist responsibly with the communities within which they operate. Whereas others call it CSI, I have always preferred BCL's view that it is social investment," Molefhi said.
He added that BCL's initiatives are investments that will bring returns in the form of goodwill from the community. Molefhi said Selebi-Phikwe had undergone visible transformation over the last two years with the refurbishment of BCL houses giving the town a fresh look.
The MP said BCL had taken its rightful place in the Selebi-Phikwe diversification initiative. He said BCL was actively represented in the second university bid committee and the recent European Union (EU) funded Selebi-Phikwe diversification study. "This shows the mine's concern for the sustainability of greater Selebi-Phikwe beyond the economic life of its operations," Molefhi said.
BCL general manager, Montwedi Mphathi said his company is celebrating its small contribution to the partnership with the community.
He said while other road projects overshot their time schedules and budget, BCL had managed to maintain a tight control on its budget for the project.
"The project was a major success measured against key parameters of project management. It was managed by our own project's department," Mphathi said.
He added that the project did not record lost time injury, saying this was down to stringent safety procedures. Selebi-Phikwe West MP, Kavis Kario said BCL's initiative is a sign of a business that cares for the community that it operates in.
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Kario said it was imperative for the town to have air traffic, which will go a long way in diversifying its economy.
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