Welcome to the March-April edition of The Projects Magazine. This edition is headlined by Debswana’s new Socio-Economic Development (SED) Strategy—a detailed plan that shows how Debswana wants to help build the country in more ways than just mining, contribution to national fiscus and traditional corporate social investment.
For many years, Debswana has helped Botswana’s economy by supporting exports, GDP, and government revenue. But this new strategy goes further. It puts local communities, sustainability, and growing other parts of the economy at the centre. It is a new proposition on how Debswana can help build a better future for everyone.
What makes Debswana’s strategy special is not just the size of its work or money spent. It is the human side—the real stories of people and communities. The company now uses new ways to measure long-term success and follows community-based models like Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), which means working closely with communities to help them use what they already must grow and succeed.
President Boko has also instigated a debate by calling for change in how communities benefit from big projects like mining operations located around their area of habitant. He says that people who live in areas where these projects happen often lose their land and see no real benefits. He believes it is not enough for companies to do Corporate Social Investment (CSI) —because that is optional. Instead, he is asking for laws to be changed so that communities can own a part of these projects or receive money (royalties) from them. This is a powerful and important idea. This also call for mining companies to be proactive in engaging on what seems like will soon be a government policy.
De Beers has moved its diamond auction business from Singapore to Gaborone. This is a big win for Botswana. Now, all of De Beers’ diamond trading is done in the country. This gives Botswana more influence and helps build its position as a world leader in diamonds. The first auction in Gaborone was successful, with many buyers joining in. This move shows that Botswana is ready to take a stronger role in the diamond business, not just as a supplier of rough stones, but as a centre for trading too.
The government is also launching Project Thobo through the state-owned company MDCB. As part of this project, three new companies are being created to work on exploring, investing in, and developing minerals. The goal is to grow Botswana’s mining industry in a smart and long-term way. The country wants to discover and use new minerals and attract more investment. This is not just about diamonds anymore—Botswana is looking at critical minerals too, which are very important for inputs in the global transition to clean energy.
Bonno Housing Programme is another exciting project. This is a very big plan to build 100,000 houses in two years. The first part has already started in Kgale View, with construction of 3,000 housing units. This project will create over 30,000 jobs and provide homes for people of all income levels. If delivered, it will become one of the most impactful initiatives ever undertaken by government and will significantly address housing problems.
Bonno Housing Programme also underscore the importance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), as they play a big role in supporting economic development. They help governments and private companies work together to deliver important infrastructure and services faster and effectively.
There are also many other interesting stories in this edition. As usual, The Projects Magazine continue to serve its readers by placing at their figure tips important information for those who need it, especially for investors who are looking for investment opportunities.
Enjoy your read!
