- Employs 112 locals with 75 being Maun residents
Checkers opened its first store in Maun on Thursday to great excitement from potential customers who thronged the shop in large numbers. The shop is located at the newly opened Mall of Maun and the second in the country after the one at Airport Junction in Gaborone.
The retailer is dedicated to providing fresh, high-quality products and exceptional services to its valued customers.
Emphasising on its commitment to empowering locals, Checkers operations manager, Gorata Modikwa revealed that the store has employed a total of 112 employees all of whom are Batswana including the management staff, out of which 75 are residents of Maun.
“At Checkers we believe in the power of community and the importance of supporting one another. We are also committed to community events and charitable initiatives,” Modikwa stressed as the company also donated P10 000 to Bana Ba Letsatsi, a Maun based centre which offers a safe haven for vulnerable children.
The store’s regional manager, Meshack Mosimegi, concurred that Checkers is more than just a grocery store, but also committed to supporting local farmers. This as they procure a bulk of their fresh produce from local producers.
“We believe that by bringing a diverse range of fresh produce, pantry staples, and specialty items under one roof, we are not only meeting the needs of our community but also creating a space where neighbours can connect and thrive together,” he said.
“The opening of Checkers in Maun has brought some growth not only in our company but also in the economy of the country, also it has created some job opportunities to those who have been unemployed hence reducing its rate,” Maun branch manager, Kgomotso Ditsele also buttressed.
He added that their purpose as Checkers is to uplift lives everyday by pioneering access to the most affordable goods and services, creating economic opportunities and protecting the environment.
For his part, Kgosi Leretetse Mogalakwe said the district has for a long time been left behind in terms of developments, and appreciated the opening of retail stores such Checkers in Maun. “People from this region used to go shopping as far as Francistown so it is now pleasing to see such developments being established here,” he delightedly stated.
Mogalakwe added that Maun as a tourism area, such developments are a boost not only to the sector but also to the livelihoods of the locals in terms of job creation.
North West deputy district commissioner, Gaborekwe Ramogaupi also noted, “this magnificent piecece brings to us a lot of economic benefits. I am so happy that we are developing economically and as we do, inherently our social status will improve.”
In closing, Ramogaupi urged the employees to be committed to their work and not disappoint the district leadership by engaging in unruly behaviors such as coming to work late or under the influence of alcohol. To Checkers leadership, the deputy district commissioner pleaded with them to continue empowering its employees to further advance their careers.
