Botswana: Four companies in partnership with Debswana-Jwaneng Mine have donated to Machana Primary School and Machana Kgotla.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony of the donations, Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development Nnaniki Wilhemina Makwinja said the donations truly demonstrate what the country can achieve as a nation through collaboration. “Indeed, the power of many is greater than the power of one,” she said.
Honourable Makwinja thanked Cowburn Company, which donated a porta cabin worth two hundred and twenty thousand (P220 000.00) to Machana Kgotla for use as office space for Kgotla and the Police.
She added that the donation of a Porta cabin to Kgotla is a welcome development that will present a transformation to the whole community because Kgosi and the police will have an office to operate from.
She also expressed gratitude to Kalcon Company for donating a porta cabin worth one hundred and seventy-seven pula (P177 000.00) for use as teacher accommodation at Machana Primary School. She noted that teacher accommodation remains a challenge both to the government and the Ministry, saying any assistance in that regard is received with appreciation.
Rotdrill Explorations, on the other hand, donated a combination of Hydro coop and Hydroponics structure to Machana Primary School. The structure is a 3x3m multifunctional smart farm equipped with a 40-watt solar panel, a 40watt submersible pump, a 50L water tank and a filtration system. The module system has the capacity to raise 120 broiler chickens and 180 vegetable plants.
Makwinja highlighted that climate change calls for innovative ways in agriculture in order to remain self-sufficient in food production. She noted that the agricultural sector needs to be revolutionalized to adapt to these high temperatures and extended dry spells; emphasizing that the smart farm presents a rare privilege to these learners as they will be enticed into developing an inquisitive spirit as they interact with these structures, and in the process they will recognize their passion and establish their career path.
Water Surveys Botswana also donated cartridges and twenty thousand, eight hundred pula cheque to Machana Primary School.
For his part, the Minister of Entrepreneurship and also Member of Parliament for Moshupa-Manyana constituency, Honourable Karabo Gare urged the community of Machana to jealously guard the projects and ensure that they maximize their learning.