19 Jan 2015

Residents of Phase 6 in Francistown have decried lack of a shopping complex in the area.

Speaking in a kgotla meeting addressed by Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane recently, Phase 6 Ward Development Committee (WDC) chairperson, Mr Batshegi Kgari said lack of the shopping complex was a serious challenge.

Mr Kgari also requested that the Ntshe Clinic should be upgraded to operate 24 hours, noting that if someone got sick during the night, they encountered challenges of seeking medical attention at Jubilee Hospital.

In addition, he requested for a small bridge between Dumela Industrial and Phase 6 so that residents could carry on with their daily duties during the rainy season.

One of the residents, Ms Chinana Jerk complained about her poverty eradication project, saying it was delayed by the Social and Community Development (SC&D) office. Ms Jerk said after assessment, she requested to be assisted with small livestock and was told she was too old to look after them. She said her request to rear bees did not succeed as well.

She later requested for cooking pots and was yet to be helped. Responding to some of the poverty eradication issues, Ms Gagolepe Lentswe, a social development officer, admitted that there had been delays due to lack of transport.

She further said their office was overloaded with the work of assessment of beneficiaries and follow-up on projects. She said some beneficiaries were absent on the day of assessment which made their job difficult. 

For his part, MP Moswaane said all issues raised were important and would be taken into consideration. He encouraged residents to listen to the radio to hear more on Parliamentary debates and about the budget speech. ENDS