Advancing citizen economic empowerment through partnership & ecosystem building: ABSA visits Morupule Coal Mine

Morupule Coal Mine (MCM) was pleased to host a courtesy visit from our valued business partners, ABSA Bank, in a session that proved both insightful and timely. The engagement aligned seamlessly with MCM’s continued commitment towards Botswana’s economic transformation through the Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme (CEEP).

The morning began with welcoming remarks from Mr. Nhovo, Head of Commercial at MCM, who expressed sincere appreciation to the ABSA delegation for making time to connect. He noted the increasing relevance of partnership in achieving MCM’s strategic vision. Partnerships that transcend industries to unlock opportunities for local businesses.

Highlighting the objectives of the engagement, the CEEP Coordinator, Ms. Tirelo Ramasedi, emphasised the regional outlook of the Programme, which aims to grow and scale MCM citizen businesses partners beyond Botswana’s geographical borders. She further emphasised that Enterprise & Supplier Development (ESD) serves as a critical success factor for businesses in building sustainable citizen businesses that deliver value to MCM’s shareholders nationally and internationally.

With internal key stakeholders representing Engineering, Supply-Chain Management, Mining Strategy as well as Marketing & Logistics, the session proved to be a productive dialogue not only on collaboration, challenges and mutual aspirations but shared opportunities. Representing ABSA, Mr. Harold Matenge, Head of Ecosystem Banking, delivered a compelling presentation outlining the bank’s role in empowering local enterprises through three strategic pillars:

§ Access to Finance – Delivering tailored financial solutions for suppliers and entrepreneurs.

§ Capacity Building – Equipping businesses with essential skills in legal compliance, operational excellence, and financial management.

§ Access to Markets – Creating vital linkages to broaden business horizons and unlock growth potential.

Mr. Matenge also candidly addressed some of the recurring challenges faced in supporting local businesses, such as:

§ A pervasive fear of risk among entrepreneurs;

§ Non-compliance with banking and regulatory standards; and

§ Misconceptions about the accessibility of business funding.

These insights sparked thoughtful discussion among attendees and reinforced the need for continued collaboration to overcome such barriers.

Closing the session, Ms. Lindiwe Matikiti, Procurement Coordinator from MCM’s Supply Chain Management section, delivered a heartfelt vote of thanks. She highlighted the value of engagements like these in advancing Citizen Economic Empowerment and strengthening the foundations of Botswana’s supply chain ecosystem. “Partnerships like these are key in driving efficiency within our supply chain,” she said, “and ultimately, in contributing to the greater vision of Morupule Coal Mine.”