It was a very delightful moment for BSB and for Mercy Mogotsi, a BSB employee who arrived first at the 30 km walk finish line making the Smooth Team proud. The athletic Mercy said that she is excited about arriving first and flying the BSB Flag high. Mercy is no stranger at walking, having recently participated at the famous Comrades Marathon in South Africa confesses that she has a passion for charity walks and also loves running long distance .

Botswana Savings Bank through its Corporate Social Responsibility Policy sponsored the charity 2018 Desert Bushwalk which took place on the 28th July 2018. Botswana Savings Bank was a silver level sponsor of the walk having sponsored with P50 000. The Desert Bush Walk is organized by CSI-Concepts Foundation in conjunction with The Desert Bush Walk Local Organizing Committee.

The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development, Thapelo Olopeng was the guest walker. The event attracts local and international walkers from Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa. This is a national event and BSB is proud sponsor as proceeds of the walk are ploughed into under privileged members of the community.

The desert bushwalk is divided into two walking distances being 15km and 30km and the Bank hosted a 15km of 30km business spot with a water point where the walkers had a break and exercised.

According to the desert Bushwalk Local organizing committee’s report, the annual Desert Bush Walk, stands as one of the most successful events of The Desert Bush Walk Local Organizing Committee-LOC. This walk is geared towards supporting sustainable educational initiatives that address the needs of disadvantaged Children within the Jwaneng / Mabutsane Region and ultimately aims at targeting other regions in Botswana. The desert bushwalk is a walk based on sponsors (individuals or corporate), contributions and individual participations fees working towards charitable projects and everyone can contribute towards this walk.

According to Olivia Molefe, the impact of Botswana Savings Bank’s contribution towards the Desert Bush Walk is commendable as Botswana Savings Bank has supported this initiative since inception.

Minister Olopeng when speaking at the walk said, “I support this walk and I will continue doing so because the proceeds are used to help the poor; especially educational purposes. My ministry is also responsible for sports tourism and this walk attracted regional countries participation making it a regional walk as we have seen walkers from Lesotho and South Africa. He went on to urge the private sector to support this initiative so that we could grow it from being a regional to a continental and world event.”