Lucara On Building Resilient Communities

By Bakang Thuso

Naseem Lahri, Lucara Mine CEO L ucara Botswana continues to be a leader in the mining sector successfully extracting some of the country's most valuable gems. As the only privately-owned diamond mine in the country, it consistently champions the industry by advancing the lives of many citizens. Its community empowerment-based projects cover pillars of education, economic growth, gender equality particularly centred on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and agriculture, to mention a few.

Naseem Lahri is the first-ever woman to assume the leadership role of Managing Director (MD) in the mining industry in Botswana. Lahri is an accomplished Professional Accountant with a Master's in Strategic Management (BCOM, FCCA). She boasts more than 17 years of experience in the mining industry, including 10 years within Corporate Finance at Debswana at the senior management level. She has also served as a board member in the Debswana Pension Fund, Botswana Accountancy College, and Pula Medical Aid.

Lucara's United Nations (UN) SDGs focus When it comes to sustainable community development initiatives Lucara Botswana works on partnership-based projects that can sustain themselves after the funding process. The mining company asserts that donating money vouchers to an individual does not meet the goal of community advancement as their CSR projects are aligned to 17 principles of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Lucara subscribes to SDGs pillar 1, 2, 3 4,5,6,8,9,16 and 17.

Lahri indicated that Lucara subscribed its community's development projects to the UN SDGs so as to make a meaningful and sustainable impact on the communities of influence. Lucara's Karowe Mine, is based in Letlhakeng, a small town in the Boteti region. As the mine's town of operation, it has

benefited from many CSI projects initiated by Lucara. Lahri expressed immense contentment with the performance and resilience of the projects undertaken in Letlhakane as they proved to be durable and sustainable which she says is an important aspect of the SDG's goals. Karowe Villages Initiative (KVI) The Karowe Village Initiative (KVI) was launched in 2018 and focused on investing in and developing sustainable community-driven projects and initiatives. Lucara conducted a feasibility study, invested in supporting the Mokubilo Co-operative Society Farm, the first project under KVI. Its support emerged in response to the Mokubilo village's need to address malnutrition by providing affordable and locally grown vegetables and protein while generating employment opportunities.

IMPACTFUL KVI PROJECTS Mokubilo Community Farm The Mokubilo Community Farm is a Lucara flagship project in the Mokubilo village. It is an integrated farm that employs 12 people, a number that may seem insignificant to some but makes a life-changing difference for many. It was through this project that 720 students around the Boteti region were fed by a consortium of people who went into this farming business. "The impact of the Mokubilo farm is that it has reduced malnutrition by 7.7% across the Boteti region. This is in line with SDG Goal Number 1, ‘No Poverty’ and SDG 2, which speak to ‘Zero Harm.’ The farm is friendly to the environment," said the upbeat managing director.

Mokubilo farm also produces on a large scale capacity and is self-sustaining. This, she said, is demonstrated by its ability to supply big stores like Choppies and Spar. Mmadikola Hardware Store Another Lucara project aimed at empowering the community is the Mmadikola Hardware store built in Mmadikola village. It is targeted to employ eight people and seeks to fulfil the mandate of SDG Number 4 of 'Alienating Poverty' and SDG Number 8 that speaks to decent work and advancement of economic growth. The ultimate goal is to provide financial independence to 22 of its members who will receive dividends from the project which is now nearing completion. Letlhakane Abattoir The company is also embarking on a project to refurbish the Letlhakane abattoir to provide high-level hygienic services for the Letlhakane farming community.

The Letlhakane abattoir project speaks to SDF Goals 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth). The refurbished abattoir will create jobs and improve economic activity in Letlhakane and its surrounding areas. Lahri indicated their desire to have the abattoir run and managed by the community with some help from the company. She added that if it is privatized it will be expensive for the farming community to access it. Khwee Farm The second KVI project; a Fodder and small stock farm in Khwee village started operating in 2019 and covers SDGs 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero harm), and SDG 9 (Develop resilient industries). Lahri said the project is 89% complete and will be commissioned this year, 2022. Letlhakane Sports Complex A top-tier state-of-the-art sports complex is underway at Letlhakane, the sports complex will contribute to the development of sports in the Boteti region. The stadium will be commissioned this year. "We want to encourage the youth of Letlhakane to engage in different sporting codes and ultimately earn a living from sports. It will have the capacity to carry over 2000 people seated. We have started the process of building the stadium and jobs priority is reserved for the Boteti community," explained Lahri.

To date, the development of the sports complex has employed 94 people, 63 being male and 11 female. As part of empowering the local communities' contractors are encouraged to use the services from the local community.

According to Lahri, the sports complex adopts the UN SDG 2 (Zero harm), SDG 3 (Good health and wellbeing), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Develop infrastructure), SDG 17 (partnerships for goals) keeping the community fit and healthy through sporting activities.

National GBV Campaign The national campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a project that is very close to the hearts of many, having a spike in GBV cases in Botswana amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, with lockdowns contributing to the ever-growing domestic violence cases in Botswana. The mine saw a need to counter this national problem through this project; it also subscribes to the UN SDG 5 that emphasizes Gender Equality.

Former President of Botswana Dr. Festus Mogae is the ambassador of the campaign. Boro students Bus Lucara mine has also moved to procure a bus for students from Boro village after the organisation discovered that students walk over 10 kilometers to school due to a shortage of public transport. Lucara commits to improving the quality of education through Sustainable Development Goal Number 5 thereby reducing school dropouts. Sanitary Pads Campaign Lucara mine ascertains to give girls across the country dignity by supporting them with monthly supplies of sanitary pads. The villages that the project covers are Ramotswa, Shashe West, Digawana, and Gaborone Central. This shows that KVI projects are not only focused on the Boteti region. Community Boreholes As part of advancing SDG number 6 of ensuring access to clean water, Lucara embarked on drilling four (4) boreholes in four villages of Gweta, Mosu, Borolong, and Bogogobo. These villages normally grapple with water shortages and this project addressed their need.