The house Standard Bank, Habitat built

MOTSEKUOA – M14 million.
That is the amount that Standard Lesotho Bank has plowed into projects that are meant to better the lives of Basotho in the last five years.
The bank’s chief executive officer, Mpho Vumbukani, disclosed this during a ceremony to hand over a house to a physically challenged man in Motsekuoa, Mafeteng, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Lesotho.

Vumbukani said Standard Lesotho Bank is committed to take part in programmes that improve the lives of the vulnerable.
The building of the house for the 67-year-old Masilo Maphathe was achieved through the Standard Lesotho Bank’s bank@work project.
Vumbukani said the bank helped Maphathe as part of its policy to change lives by ploughing back into the community.
He said Maphathe will finally have a dignified home.

He said the bank supported the building of the house because it had seen that there was a great need.
Vumbukani said the bank donated M66 000 to Habitat for Humanity Lesotho to build the house.
“Our work is to make a difference in Basotho’s lives with the little we acquire from our customers and with Basotho’s continual support we promise to always bring back to the community,” Vumbukani said.

“It is our commitment and will forever be.”
Vumbukani said they had since signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Habitat for Humanity Lesotho.
Under the agreement, the bank will contribute M400 000 to Habitat for Humanity Lesotho to build at least two houses every year for the next three years.
He said Maphathe’s house is the first in 2018 and they will build another one after winter.

Ever since the bank partnered with Habitat for Humanity Lesotho in 2013, they have built six houses in different areas.
The National Director of Habitat for Humanity, ’Mathabo Makuta, said the house was the first in a project that will stretch for the next three years.
Makuta said Maphathe had been disabled since he was eleven months old. He was nominated by the area chief for assistance because he was living in a house that was not up to standard given his physical challenges.

A family representative, Habakuke Maphathe, said they are very grateful for the gift to his nephew.
He said his house was likely to fall on him especially in harsh weather conditions.
He said as a family they could not help him out nor build him a home but from the bottom of their hearts they are thankful to Standard Lesotho Bank and Habitat for Humanity.

Tokase Mphutlane