07/09/2026
STANBIC BANK BOTSWANA AND MORUPULE COAL MINE MARK ANOTHER YEAR OF
TURNING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION INTO COMMUNITY IMPACT
For 14 years, Stanbic Bank Botswana has been a sponsor of the Morupule Coal
Mine (MCM) CEO’s Annual Charity Cycle Challenge, supporting an initiative that brings
businesses, cyclists and communities together around a shared purpose. The 2026 challenge
took place in Palapye on Sunday, 6 September under the theme “Wheels of Hope, Together We
Go Further.” The theme captures the power of collective effort and what becomes possible
when different people and organisations each play their part.
Over the years, the challenge has channelled funds towards projects that respond to specific
community needs. In 2023, P480,000 went towards community outdoor gym facilities, creating
spaces that encourage people to stay active and healthy, while in 2024, P300,000 supported
the Cheshire Foundation with a solar system. In 2025, P560,000 supported Bonno House for
the less privileged, while this year an estimated P1.8 million is going towards the refurbishment
of Palapye Primary Hospital.
Together, these projects represent an estimated P3.14 million channelled towards community
projects through the challenge over the past four years. For Stanbic Bank Botswana, these
outcomes demonstrate the value of supporting platforms that bring people together around a
shared purpose. They also show how participation can extend beyond a single event to create
practical outcomes for communities.
“As a financial institution, we see every day how growth can create jobs, open opportunities and
improve livelihoods. But growth is also shaped by the environment in which it happens, and
businesses need communities in which people can live, work and participate,” said Mosetsana
Kapeko, Head, Personal & Private Banking at Stanbic Bank Botswana. “Our role as a sponsor
of the MCM Charity Cycle Challenge is part of that broader view of growth, and for 14 years we
have supported a platform that gives people and organisations an opportunity to contribute.”
The challenge has also contributed to the growth of cycling in Palapye and surrounding
communities. This includes increased participation, junior development and opportunities for
young cyclists to nurture their talent, while encouraging employees and members of the broader
community to adopt healthier and more active lifestyles. The initiative therefore connects with
Stanbic Bank Botswana’s focus on Health under its Social, Economic and Environmental (SEE)
approach.
The Bank’s Corporate Social Investment supports initiatives across Health, Education, and
Employability and Entrepreneurship, with the broader aim of contributing to communities that
can thrive. The MCM Charity Cycle Challenge demonstrates how partnerships can bring these
ambitions to life through a platform that allows different organisations and individuals to
contribute in their own way. MCM provides the platform, sponsors contribute financial support,
cyclists bring their energy and commitment, and communities give the initiative its purpose.
“The strength of this challenge is that no single contribution stands alone. MCM, sponsors,
cyclists, communities and other partners each play a role, and together those contributions can
achieve much more than any one organisation could achieve on its own,” said Kapeko. “That is
what ‘Wheels of Hope, Together We Go Further’ means to us.”
Stanbic Bank Botswana’s 14-year relationship with MCM also reflects the Bank’s approach to
long-term partnerships. The relationship has given the Bank an opportunity to support the
initiative through different seasons and see how it has continued to evolve and respond to
community needs. For Stanbic, lasting partnerships should create greater value with time.
The partnership is also an expression of the Bank’s purpose: “Botswana is our home; we drive
her growth.” For Stanbic Bank Botswana, driving growth means supporting clients and
businesses as they pursue their ambitions, while also contributing to the conditions that enable
people and communities to move forward. The Bank will continue to work with partners across
Botswana to support initiatives that contribute to healthier communities, create opportunities
and drive shared progress.
