19 Aug 2014

Mmadinare MP has urged Batswana to take farming seriously in order to produce food and reduce importing agriculture produce.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Sefhophe on August 18, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe said government was striving to make Botswana self-sufficient in the production of food through agriculture by providing incentives through the ISPAAD programme.

In addition, Dr Kedikilwe, also the country's Vice President, said Selebi Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) had also come in handy to promote agriculture and provide a market for agriculture produce. 

He explained that SPEDU in collaboration NFRTC were in the process of setting up a processing plant where agriculture produce would be processed into canned and bottled food.

Therefore, Dr Kedikilwe urged farmers to take agriculture serious and produce more and make use of the facility at their disposal. On other issues, Vice President Kedikilwe called on residents of Sefhophe to refrain from deviant behaviours and vandalizing private property. 

He expressed concern about reports he received from Botswana Power Cooperation (BPC) that people were vandalizing Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) property and stealing power cables.

He said such behaviours were a set back because funds used to purchase or repair vandalised BPC equipment could have been used to bring other developments in the village. He also cautioned those who broke into other peoples and stealing their belongings as reported, to desist from such behaviour.

With regards to water supply and distribution, Dr Kedikilwe noted that Botswana will in the very near future start drawing 495 million cubic liters of water from the Chobe/Zambezi River to water the agriculture plantations in the Pandamatenga area. 

He said this came after 8 governments of countries  that have access to the perennial river came to an agreement. He said Morupule B Plant in Palapye was back to normal after experiencing technical and mechanical problems early this year.

“Currently the power station is in full swing with all the four units producing 600 Mega watts of electricity,” he said.

Furthermore, the Vice President said government was in the process of setting up two more units that would produce 300 Mega Watts at the same place. In addition, he noted that plans are under way to setup another power station in Mmamabula saying the aim is to produce 1320 Mega Watts of electricity by 2018.

“The idea is that the more developments take place and new mines and industries emerge in the country, the government should be ready and have enough power to provide for the people and the projects taking place,” he said.
Dr Kedikilwe touched on the issue of elections explaining that the date for the 2014 elections has been set for October. 

He urged residents of Sefhophe and Batswana as a whole to make sure that their ‘Omang’ cards are in order as well as registration card in order for them to be able to vote.
Meanwhile residents of Sefhophe showered Vice President Kedikilwe with praises for serving them diligently for close to 30 years. 

They explained that as the area MP he brought many developments to their village and other villages in the Mmadinare constituency which included electricity and portable water. 

Currently all villages in the Mmadinare constituency have been connected to the grid and have portable water. ENDS