Debswana’s Voluntary Separation Programme Spurs New Wave of Entrepreneurs

Debswana’s Voluntary Separation Programme Spurs New Wave of Entrepreneurs. Debswana’s Voluntary Separation (VS) programme has not only supported workforce restructuring but has also contributed to job creation and entrepreneurship across Botswana.

Speaking at the Botswana Mining Show in Gaborone this week, Debswana Chief Operations Officer Koolatotse Koolatotse revealed that 80 percent of employees who exited under the VS programme have successfully established businesses that are now employing others.

“Debswana is creating employers,” Koolatotse stated. “Eighty percent of the people who have left Debswana have established businesses employing full-time staff. The remaining 20 percent have joined other industries, including sectors outside Botswana.”

The VS programme was introduced as part of Debswana’s operational transformation agenda, aimed at modernising the company’s structure while creating broader socio-economic impact. According to Koolatotse, the results demonstrate how structured employee transitions can stimulate entrepreneurship and contribute to national employment objectives.

He highlighted that many of the former employees’ ventures now operate in key sectors such as construction, transport, catering, and consultancy—helping to diversify Botswana’s business landscape and stimulate local value chains.

Koolatotse added that the mining giant continues to support initiatives that empower citizens beyond the mining sector, including supplier development programmes and local enterprise participation.

Debswana’s approach aligns with Botswana’s drive for economic diversification and citizen empowerment, reinforcing the potential for private sector programmes to complement national job creation strategies.