25 Feb 2013

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Dikgakgamatso Seretse has said the construction of a new police station to cater for Sebina and Marapong residents has been deferred due to financial constraints.

Speaking in an interview after a consultative meeting with the leadership of Sebina and Marapong on the deferred project, Minister Seretse promised that his ministry would keep on updating them on the planned project.

He said they had resolved to strengthen police presence in the two areas until the construction of a new police station at one of the villages, a move which would help relieve congestion at Tatitown Police Station in Francistown.

Mr Seretse highlighted that Tatitown Police Station was covering a wide area, and this had resulted in the surrounding villages not getting efficient service delivery.

Although there had been a misunderstanding between the two villages over the location of the new station, Minister Seretse said the two villages’ populations had to a point where  each village could have its own station.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Kgakanyane Sebina of Sebina said he was happy with the outcome of the meeting, saying it would resolve the existing conflict between the two villages regarding where the police station should be constructed.

Kgosi Sebina noted that four villages of Nshakashogwe, Marobela, Hubona and Mafungo wanted the police station built at Sebina crossroads which they viewed as the centre of all concerned villages including, Marapong.

However, Kgosi Bakani Mampori of Marapong differed with Kgosi Sebina, saying he did not bring people in support of that idea to the meeting. Kgosi Marapong supported those who wanted the station built at Marapong, saying they travelled 77 km to Tatitown Police Station.

He said if built in Marapong it would cater for the surrounding cattle posts which belonged to people of Sebina and the surrounding villages who wanted it built at the Sebina cross. 

Kgosi Mampori thanked the minister for consulting them and said they would wait for his decision on the matter. ENDS