06 Jan 2015

Tonota MP, Mr Thapelo Olopeng has informed Tonota residents that the district hospital, internal roads and street lights are among his top priorities during his tenure as the area MP.

Addressing a kgotla meeting on January 5, Mr Olopeng said it is his dream to ensure that the constituency is independent from Francistown in terms of access to health services.

He noted that having a district hospital in Tonota will relieve Masedi clinic of congestion and will also reduce the distance travelled by patients to Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital (NRH) to access services that could be provided by a primary hospital.

Further, Mr Olopeng said lack of internal roads and street lights deter investors from doing business in the village. He said since the economy is recuperating, he will ensure that his voice is heard with regard to the developments.

Still on issues of developments, the MP who is also Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture said there is need for the review of the Tonota development plan. He noted that the plan should be done in such a way that developments are planned in consideration to each village’s geographical features.

The MP said according to his own analysis, Foley could be suitable for lodges and camp sites, shopping malls in Tonota and industries in Makomoto because of the railway line and the road.

Mr Olopeng said another vision that he has is for Tonota to become a horticultural hub because farmers can take advantage of gardens along the Shashe River.

He told the residents that he is planning to invite the Minister of Agriculture to tour the gardens and discuss on how his ministry could assist the farmers to produce enough to supply the whole country.

On other issues, Mr Olopeng lamented that his ministry is concerned about Tonota youth who neglect their projects after they were funded. He appealed to the youth to change their mindset of envying to be employees but rather dream of themselves as millionaires who are also employers.

Mr Olopeng said the youth should not dream of working at Ipelegeng as it is not meant for them, and also appealed to Youth Officers to ensure speedy processing of youth applications for the Youth Development Fund (YDF).

The legislator informed the residents that the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs is planning to review the Society’s Act in order to increase the required number of members of religious organisation to register from 10 to 250 as an effort to curb mushrooming of churches.

Most of the residents supported the review of the Society’s Act with one, Mr Setshege Tapela suggesting that the required number be 1000 members.

Ms Batshegi Nkgare also suggested 1000 as the required number of members and noted that the members’ names should not just be on paper but the registrar should ensure that they exist.

Mr Botho Ntirang said in addition to increasing the number of required members from 10 to 250, the church’s doctrine should be scrutinised and it should be a requirement that the leader be a local.

On a different note, a youth, Mr Sean Kgokong requested the MP to plead with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) to allow Diploma in Real Estate students to progress up to Degree level.

He lamented that rejection to sponsor students’ progression denied them the opportunity to become fully fledged real estate agents.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Kgosi Ramosinyi Radipitse commended residents of Tonota for their decent behaviour on New Year’s Eve.

The village Umbrella Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson, Mr Oeme Tangane commended Mr Olopeng for his appointment to a ministerial position. 

He applauded government for the construction of Tonota/Francistown road and requested for a primary hospital and a mini stadium in Tonota. ENDS