MTC sets aside N$12,5m for social projects

Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) will be investing N$12,5 million in corporate social investment projects around the country for 2023/24.

This was revealed by MTC spokesperson Tim Ekandjo at MTC’s corporate social responsibility investment projects announcement yesterday.

“This investment will support new and continuing projects in education, health, poverty alleviation, support for orphaned and vulnerable children, small and medium enterprise development, job creation and the environment,” he said.

Ekandjo reiterated the impact of corporate social responsibility on the development of Namibia and said it is important for corporations to join hands with the government in an effort to address social issues.

“The government cannot do it alone, and it is therefore important that we collaborate and see how we can assist the government, but also play our part.

“The notion should never be that we are just assisting the government,” he said.

Ekandjo said it is necessary to give back to the people to make sure vulnerable individuals have access to services such as fair education.

He said while the company’s vision includes an emphasis on an inclusive economy, creating value for all its stakeholders is also at the heart of MTC’s mission.

This, he said, translates to stakeholder inclusivity as one of MTC’s fundamental values.

“That is why we do not focus exclusively on business activities that return a profit for our shareholders, but also on social investment.

“This is in line with the strategic framework that guides us as Namibia’s largest telecoms provider and a leading corporate,” Ekandjo said.

Speaking at the same event, MTC chief executive Licky Erastus said corporate social responsibility is not a competition and corporates should join hands in efforts to address social issues in the country.

“We must collaborate, we must engage each other, and we need to partner if we want to make a real impact in society,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Vision Restoration initiative, Helena Ndume extended her gratitude to MTC for the financial boost.

“Your donation demonstrates that MTC really cares for the communities they operate in.

The state-of-the-art assistance means our people are now able to get assistance without paying thousands at private practices, and this is very commendable,” she said.

Beneficiaries include the One Economy Foundation, the MTC Rural School Project, the Nation Internship Project, the DW Land Delivery Initiative, DW Early Childhood Development, MTC4Life, MTC Care, the Vision Restoration Initiative, Hope Village, Community Seedbank, the Kunene Early Warning System and the sourcing initiative of the City of Windhoek.