Women of power

IMI KOLOBE

MINSTER AWARDS WOMEN FOR DELIVERING PROJECT ON TIME AND BUDGET

Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Setlhomo Lelatisitswe recently presented awards to three women of excellence who spearheaded a P1.3 million project in Maun and completed it on time and within budget.

The three women are former senior council secretary in the North West District, who has since been transferred to Gantsi district, Mogomotsi Seemule and two employees of Tshidilo stimulation centre in Maun, Accountant Bonno Seleka and deputy manager, Imi Kolobe.

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They were awarded for successfully delivering a new block for Tshidilo, a stimulation centre for disabled children in and around Maun on time.

Bonno Seleka

“It was not easy to construct this building due to financial constraints that were further complicated by global covid-19 pandemic. In our case this was experienced after the country embarked on a national lockdown and we had to observe very strict spending to save for the project,” explained the centre’s board chairperson, Seoka Kenosi.

Kenosi was giving the project overview during it’s officially opening last week Thursday.

Upon realising that they had to work on a tight budget, the board appointed Kolobe and Seleka to oversee the project.

“We assigned our accountant and deputy manager as project managers after we received quotations from contractors that ranged from P1.6 million to P1.8 million.”

Despite the tough task that was complicated by the dry-out of potential donors the women had to rise to the occasion to get the men working according to new rules.

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MOGOMOTSI SEEMULE

“I am a very strict person especially when it comes to finances and I want things to be done the right way, according to plan and on time,” explained Kolobe.

For her part Seleka said that there were times when they had to take a stand and agree without the board on an important decision, just for the interest of the project.

“I am very tight fisted when it comes to expenditure so there are times when we disagreed and during those times we could say no to the boss,” explained Seleka.

But the big award went to former senior council secretary, Seemule who was celebrated for his great civil service to the community.

She is said to have provided counselling, guidance and supervision throughout the project and even assigned good architects to draw the building plan.

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The structures consists of two classrooms, offices, kitchen and ablution which the assistant minister of Health and Wellness,Sethomo Lelatisitswe said was built at an initial budget of P1.3 million despite price hikes owing to covid-19 .

GRATEFUL: Lelatisitswe

The centre, which was initially opened in 1985 serves children living with disability in Maun and surrounding areas and Lelatisitswe said it was conceptualised to cater for a growing number of children with disability and in need of pre-school and day care.

The government only started sponsoring the centre in 1995 and currently supports its day to day running, including paying staff salaries.

Currently the centre is said to have a waiting list of 125 children in need of these services.

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