BancABC Tonota House hand over
BSE Listed Pan African Bank, BancABC, has donated a 4 roomed house to a family of 24, previously sharing dwelling in a one roomed house. The house, valued at P130 000, was handed over at a ceremony in Tonota recently. In attendance was the Assistant Minster for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Honorable G.U.S. Matlhabaphiri who officiated the event, Area MP Honourable Pono Moatlhodi, The Chief, as well as dignitaries from the District Commission, Sub District Council and Local Authority.
“As a Pan African bank whose roots are planted firmly on the African soil, we understand the importance of the age old African principle of giving back to the communities you interact with, and the importance of supporting one another through hard times. We therefore constantly strive to play our part in contributing to the economic and social development of communities in Botswana,” disclosed the BacABC Managing Director Jitto Kurian.
“Banc ABC is both proud and humbled at the opportunity to change the lives of the Swakis for the better, and their elated response was a huge pat on the back for us. Shelter is one of the basic human needs, and we hope the family will in turn be motivated to be active members of society and contribute positively to society,” affirmed Kurian.
Delivering the Key Note address at the ceremony, Honorouble G.U.S. Matlhabaphiri commended the Bank for meeting government halfway by assisting the Swaki family and others like them. He further elaborated on government’s commitment to eradicate poverty through various ways, including partnering with the private sector in initiatives such as the President’s Housing Appeal.
“Today, BancABC is testament that our pleas continue to be heard within corporate Botswana, bearing fruit for Batswana who need the assistance most. This indeed is a partnership that we as government value, and one that we hope will continue beyond today. Today we can safely say we are one step closer to a just, caring compassionate and tolerant nation,” encouraged the Assistant Minister.
The Swaki family has a total of 24 members who previously all lived in a one roomed shack in the village. The family, which consists of a grandmother, grandchildren and great grand-children have been living in abject poverty since moving to Tonota from Mmakhae lands in 2010. Through BancABC’s CSI Policy which promotes the assistance of Botswana’s communities’ social and economic development, the Bank was able to provide shelter and groceries for the Swaki family. Similarly In 2012, BancABC built a house for an orphaned family in Moshaneng Village, valued at P94 000.
“I believe BancABC could have found many other ventures through which to invest the funds they dedicated to this house, but they chose instead to help the Swaki family, seeing that they were in need. That is truly humbling, and we wish the bank the best of fortunes going forth,” concluded the area Member of Parliament, Hon. Pono Moatlhodi.
