11 Sep 2014

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama has assured Palapye residents that government is determined to ensure that the glass factory project in their village is resuscitated. 

Speaking in a kgotla meeting in Palapye on September 11, Lt Gen. Khama said government, in collaboration with Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), was doing all it could to ensure that the project become a success.

He requested the residents to be patient while efforts were still being made to revive the project.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Dorcus Makgatho-Malesu had told residents that the project was under liquidation while a suitable developer was still being being sought.

Ms Makgatho-Malesu said in fact, an offer was made to the current partners to take over the project by buying shares from BDC but the deal fell through because of the cumbersome conditions they put forward.

“Liquidation was pursued to allow us to look for better equipped partners who can assist in bringing this project back into motion so that more Batswana can be employed,” said Ms Makgatho-Malesu.

On other issues, President Khama said he had requested the Ministry of Health to upgrade hospitals and clinics around the country as the economy was showing signs of recovery, adding that Palapye Primary Hospital would be upgraded. 

On a request by the Village Development (VDC) chairman, Mr Olebile Ndaba’s for their sitting allowance to be increased, Lt Gen. Khama admitted that the money was not enough but reminded him that employees across all sectors had also appealed for salary increment.

He also said he was aware that some headmen of arbitration were not paid allowances but he added that developments were ongoing to rectify the situation. 

Also, VDC chairman thanked the government for the programmes that had and continued to improve the lives of Batswana, citing a certain woman in the village who hadbuilt herself a house through the money she earned from Ipelegeng programme.

He further praised the ISPAAD programme saying it had enabled them to plough more than 29 000 hectares in the Palapye region in the previous season. 

He, however, expressed concern that the lack of farm implement will hamper farmers from tilling more land as only those who will be row planting will be assisted through ISPAAD. 

Kgosi Olebile Masego of Palapye thanked government for prohibiting some domestically brewed alcoholic staff which contributed to misconduct in the villages 

He thanked the government for the introduction of cluster policing which had drastically reduced the rate of crime in Palapye. ENDS