12 Mar 2015

Members of Parliament took turns on Wednesday afternoon (March 5) to decry the bad state of road networks across the country.

Debating budget proposals presented by Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo, legislators were symphonic in explaining that the maintenance and upkeep of road networks was still a challenge.

Tlokweng MP, Ms Same Bathobakae asked the minister to consider re-planning for the Tlokweng-Sikwane road which was included in the NDP 9 but scrapped of the NDP10 due to insufficient funds. She said the road was convenient for the Tlokweng community. 

Ms Bathobakae said Maratanang was a relatively new community and there were currently no road and telecommunication networks availed to residents. 

Serowe North legislator Mr Kgotla Autlwetse explained the bad state of the Tshimoyapula- Moreomabele road and also pleaded with the minister to connect the small villages of Gojwane and Tshimoyapula to the Information Technology world.

 He also said the minister must hasten to provide transport for transportation of goods such as salt from Sowa to different Livestock Advisory Centres (LAC’s) around the country.

Chobe MP Mr Ronald Shamukuni said his region was a tourist attraction where road links and networks were supposed to meet world standards. He took a swipe at the local airliner for reverting their mandate of providing best services to tourist due to its delays and waiting lists. 

He said they were thus losing business to rival tourist operators in neighboring Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia. Gaborone North MP Mr Haskins Nkaigwa said road maintenance was vital for economic diversification and growth. 

He advised that there was a strong need for a definitive rail network across all major towns and villages in Botswana.  He applauded the minister for the Greater Gaborone Master plan and said there was need to introspect and roll it out to SHHA areas. 

He indicted local mobile network providers for what he termed exorbitant fares and ripping off unsuspecting citizens. Boteti West legislator, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said it was important to engage private sector in the upkeep or design of roads.

He said the initiative was successful during the electrification of 21 villages and could be given a try.  He said the Motopi-Kumaga road was in a bad state due to poor design.  He also pleaded with the minister to consider at least re-gravelling road links to RAD’s such as Xere, Kedia, Xhumo and Mokoboxane amongst others.

Responding to MP’s requests Minister Mabeo said a good portion of the ministry’s development budget was to deal with ongoing projects and promised to work on the challenges. 

He said they have developed a strategy paper which will look at existing roads and some shelved projects will be reconsidered despite the limited resources. ENDS