For its corporate responsibility initiatives and investments, Ohorongo Cement received the Diamond Arrow Award from PMR Africa in Windhoek, today (12 March 2018).
The company scored the highest rate on an overall rating of 4.21 (highest rated in category) out of a possible 5.00 in the category: Companies/institutions held in high esteem as good corporate citizens based on their corporate responsibility initiatives and investments over the past 12 months in Namibia.
The awards are based on the survey on Namibia, conducted from August to October 2017 by PMR Africa, on the perceptions of respondents from corporates and senior government officials. The purpose of the awards is to celebrate excellence.
“This award reaffirms our commitment of “assisting in the upliftment of communities, and to contribute towards the general growth and development of Namibia,” said Mr. Hans-Wilhelm Schütte, the Chairperson of the Ohorongo Otavi Community Trust.
Schütte added that while Ohorongo is in the business of cement manufacturing, it does not mean that the company should ignore the challenges facing the country. “That is why during the construction phase of the Ohorongo Cement plant in 2009, the company took a deliberate stance to re-invest into Namibia, targeting specific sectors such as Health-, Education- and Infrastructure Development.”
This corporate social investment portfolio is innovative at its core, which according to Schütte, “is achieved through assembling partners from various industries to start meaningful and sustainable projects, which results in making a tangible difference in the lives of people.”
“Throughout the years, the OOCT has by means of various projects contributed significantly towards the development of communities, and will continue to do so through smart partnerships,” said Schütte.
A valuable partner of OOCT: Support Ulm e.V., a non-profit organization based in the German town Ulm, has been sourcing much needed medical equipment which is contributing towards general improvement of public health services in Namibia.
OOCT together with its partners, the Pupkewitz Foundation and FNB Foundation Trust, have jointly committed a whopping N$6 million to the Shack Dwellers’ Federation of Namibia over the past two years for the purposes to accelerate delivery of community driven housing.
This institutional value of providing decent shelter is further cemented through the Ohorongo Employees Housing Scheme. “The company has no stake in the houses. It is in the interest of the employees to have a house as an asset which they can be proud of,” said Schütte.
To get more Namibians to optimise economic opportunities, together with one of its customers, the company also established the Ohorongo Buildit Brickmaking Academy with the aim to transfer skills & knowledge, while at the same time supporting employment creation. The company aspires to create a brickmaker in every village, settlement and township. Schütte added that “the Brickmaking Academy is our way of contributing towards the poverty eradication objectives of our government.”
Ohorongo also received Diamond Arrow for Cement Manufacturer, in the category Leaders and Achievers: Single Companies and Institutions in business sectors rated on their contribution on the economic growth and development of Namibia.
In 2015 Ohorongo was awarded the Diamond Arrow in the category Leaders and Achievers which is based on our contributions towards enhancing the economic growth and development of the country.
To date, OOCT has invested in excess of N$ 22 million in various projects on a national level since its inception. Schütte emphasises that all OOCT’s efforts are aimed at assisting Namibia to become an industrialised nation which can compete on the international arena, whilst leaving a lasting legacy.
