14 Jul 2014

The Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe has thanked residents of Tobane for working hand in hand with him during his tenure as Mmadinare legislator.

He said during a Kgotla meeting in Tobane on July 11 that if it was not of their support, many projects would not have been achieved in the constituency.

The Vice President further told the residents that President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama had directed that ministers should have scheduled phone in sessions where they would interact with the public to address issues of concern.

He further told the residents that a number of bills would be addressed during Parliament’s winter session. The bills, he said include the Forensic Procedure Bill 2014 which would address issues regulating the technology and processes undertaking when conducting DNA’s.

He explained that the bill would help resolve conflicts arising from DNAs. He also noted that DNA would also play a meaningful role resolving stock theft cases where scientists would be able to genetically prove if the stolen livestock in question was an offspring of one of the owners’ cows.

Dr Kedkilwe also stated that Parliament would also look at whether basic food commodities such as rice, milk, flour, mealie meal and samp among others should be taxed or not.

He also indicated that a steel processing plant was due to be set up in Selebi Phikwe and the ground breaking to mark the launch of the construction of the facility would take place this Thursday.

Meanwhile, the residents showered the vice president with praises for bringing developments to their village during his tenure as their MP.

 The village Kgosi Nametsego Motlhasedi said her village had a tarred road that links Tobane to Seleb Phikwe and had been connected to the grid which had enabled households in the village to connect electricity.

All these, she said were made possible due to the guidance and support of the VP. “We appreciate your services and respect the leadership you have given and the developments you have brought to our village as MP for Mmadinare,” she said.

However, she expressed concern that the village customary court did not have a vehicle to pursue suspects and do follow ups on criminal cases and collect debts. She noted that her court and the police relied on vehicles from other government departments where by the vehicle could be recalled anytime whether they had completed their business or not.

Other villagers also praised the vice president for the contributions he made during his tenure saying they had primary school and a junior secondary school.

They further indicated that a bridge crossing the Motloutse River constructed during Dr Kedikilwe’s tenure played a meaningful role in the lives of people in the area especially for those living and farming in Tshokwe.

For his part, the Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Kamogelo Sake acknowledged government for introducing Ipelegeng programme.

Mr Sake said through the programme they have managed to debush shrubs in the village and along the Tobane- Selebi Phikwe road and also within the village.

He said they were still left with the maintenance of drift fence and to fence the village dumping site.

His concern was shortage of equipment used in the Ipelegeng programme which slowed down progress. He further stated that VDC has 16 houses which they use to draw income. He noted that they also have a community hall and a postal agency which was yet to be connected with electricity.

He told Vice President Dr Kedikilwe that the postal agency has been equipped with a computer and would only operate accordingly after power connection.

Mr Sake went on to indicate that the VDC was in the process of applying to sell pit sand from the nearby river to construction companies and individuals to source out funds from the proceedings and develop their village. ENDS