28 Jan 2015

Mmadinare MP, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila has called on residents of villages that fall under his constituency to revive or start up community based organisations (CBOs).

Mr Mzwinila said CBOs could be used as foundations for creating employment and empowering youth and other residents.

Addressing a series of kgotla meetings at Robelela, Damochujenaa and Sefophe recently, he explained that CBOs could start agriculture projects to produce fruits, vegetables and field crops.

He said they could sell their produce to the Horticulture Produce Processing Plant, which was in the process of being set up in Selebi Phikwe. 

“Those that will engage in agriculture to produce food, already have a market available at the Horticulture Processing Plant amongst other places, to sell their produce and gain income to keep their CBOs afloat and members to be financially empowered,” he noted.

He said other CBO’s could engage in many other viable projects citing an example of the Mogapinyana Youth Association, who had engaged in metal works to produces items such as burglar bars, window frames and door frames.

Such programs, he said would empower members and create employment opportunities for other people in the said villages. “There will be no need to purchase goods from afar from other companies when you have a local producer,” he said. 

On other issues, Mr Mzwinila said Ntlo Ya Dikgosi played a significant role in governance of the country.  He said Ntlo ya Dikgosi also advised government; hence dikgosi must be accorded respect and dignity. 

In Robelela, some youth expressed concern that they had long been trained in fishery and still awaiting equipment to start their projects.  Mr Mosireletsi Tlale requested that government speed up the process so that they could be able to engage in fishing during the coming fishing season.

Also, some villagers requested that Robelela -Mmadinare road which was currently in a bad state, be upgraded to bitumen or graveled periodically.  In Damochujenaa, residents also expressed concern over shortage of accommodation for civil servants. 

One, Ms Pelana Maatla requested government to consider building of houses for civil servants. Also, she requested for an additional nurse to be posted at the village clinic. 

Regarding shortage of water experienced at the village, Ms Gothatamang Makao called on government to speed up the project to connect their village to the Selebi Phikwe Water Plant.

For her part, Ms Obonye Masinta said she was disappointed by elephants that destroy their field crops. 

As a result, she requested wildlife officers to act accordingly and timely to drive the elephants away.

In Sefophe, the residents requested that the village clinic be upgraded to a 24-hour facility with a maternity wing.

They also requested that the number of nurses at the clinic to be increased saying the number of patients using the facility had increased since it caters for villages such as Mogapi, cattle posts and fields in the vicinity. ENDS