12 Mar 2015

Members of Parliament have called upon the Minister of Transport and Communications to ensure the country has sufficient road infrastructure as it facilitates economic development.

Debating the transport ministry budget for 2015/16 financial year, Sefhare/Ramokgonami MP Ms Dorcas Makgato said strong road network got the economic wheels on motion adding that the minister should be requesting double the amount he was asking Parliament to approve.

The Minister of Transport and Communications Mr Tshenolo Mabeo had asked parliament to approve P3.7 billion as total budget for 2015/16 financial year. He said of this amount, P1.615 billion was for development and P2.1 billion for recurrent.

The Sefhare/Ramokgonami MP said the transport ministry had a huge backlog emanating from projects that were deferred during the economic recession hence the minister was playing catch-up.

MP Makgato decried poor road infrastructure in her constituency saying Pilikwe – Mokobeng road can benefit a number of villages such as Maape, Tumasera, Seleka and Ramokgonami and also has economic benefits as the region is also an agricultural hub.

She said another important road was the one linking Machaneng with Paars Halt and Dibete saying such a road would help reduce costs and congestion along the A1 highway the roads should at least be constantly graded.

Ms Makgato also said her constituents faced poor cellphone reception and some have also resorted to raising funds to build post offices in their villages.

Echoing the same sentiments, Mahalapye East MP Botlogile Tshireletso said the Dibete-Machaneng road was important to the economy as it provided a gateway to other parts of the country. She said the road feeds to Tswapong North, Bobirwa and Selebi Phikwe and is also useful for tourism purposes as it passes areas close to South African border such as Martins Drift border gate.

MP Tshireletso said the road has already been designed at huge amounts but had to be deferred due to financial constraints. She called upon the minister to ensure all designed roads are built rather than to let the designs rot in government offices after spending huge amounts of money.

For his part, Mochudi West MP Mr Gilbert Mangole said he was happy with a number of road projects being undertaken across the country adding the road linkages with Zambia and Trans Kalahari Railway will facilitate trade between Zambia and Namibia respectively.

He was however concerned about the level of traffic in Gaborone especially during peak hours saying police should not be seen directing traffic in the modern times. MP Mangole said he has long complained about state of roads in his constituency especially those linking Mochudi with outskirt villages but said he has learnt a company has been engaged to constantly grade the roads.

The MP said there was no use to enforce hefty penalties for traffic offenders as poor state of the roads was to blame for accidents. Ramotswa MP Mr Samuel Rantuana said the South African company engaged to construct Boatle Bridge has only employed few Batswana contrary to popular expectation.

He called upon the minister to also improve the road saying it would attract traffic as it provides the short route to Zeerust and the Trans Kalahari Highway.  ENDS