01 Mar 2015

Residents of Bokspits and Middlepits in Kgalagadi District have pleaded with the acting Minister of Agriculture, Mr Patrick Ralotsia to ask government to commercialise border posts in their villages. 

The residents made the request during a series of kgotla meetings addressed by the minister recently. Residents complained that they had to endure taking long trips when they  were exporting pellets to Namibia, arguing that the route was expensive.

They said the other reason why they wanted the border commercialised was that importing live animals, feeds and vegetables through Ramatlabama and Mamuno was strenuous and expensive.

For his part, Mr Ralotsia told residents that their concerns would be considered but they should know that it might take time since the exercise includes two countries. He further told them that the government would have to consider other things such as ensuring that whatever they would be trading does not have the potential of getting diseases in or out of the two countries.

Furthermore, residents complained about the lack of medications in their Livestock Advisory Center (LAC), adding that they did not even have an extension officer. They also asked the assistant minister to declare their area as drought stricken so that they could be able to buy feeds at reduced prices as their area has not received adequate rainfall this year.

In response, Mr Ralotsia informed them that plans were being made to ensure that in the meantime temporary extension officers were engaged while the government was still trying to find a permanent solution. He pointed out that though he realised that there was inadequate rainfall, the President was the only one who could declare a area drought stricken.

He urged civil servants to strive to do more so that residents get services that they deserve. ENDS