23 Apr 2015

The Member of Parliament for Bobonong, Mr Shaw Kgathi, recently toured his constituency accompanied by a number of media houses to show them some of the latest developments in the area.

The media practitioners also had the opportunity to appreciate some of the historic heritages that could be tapped to empower the area's economy. That the Bobonong constituency is unique in many respects is not in doubt, for it straddles the frontiers of the two nations of Zimbabwe and South Africa.

It is also symmetrically sliced by four huge rivers of Limpopo, Thune, Motloutse and Shashe, which explains why the area has such a marvelous topography. Mr Kgathi, also defence, justice and security minister, described the area as having a rich historical and tourist attractions.

“Such history and socio-economic potential have given me the drive to initiate a media tour to market such potential with the view to attracting investors to the area,” he stated.

He said Bobonong had transformed from a rural-agro based to a semi modern economy over the past years owing to the local leadership’s determination to move into 2015 with a new vision and vigour for development. 

He said some of the success stories worth mentioning included 77 operational projects out of the 93 that were funded under the economic empowerment programmes between 2009 and 2014.

Minister Kgathi said the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture had forked out P8 million for such projects creating 114 employment opportunities. On health, the area has 13 clinics with three roll-out points of ARV in Borotsi, Semolale and Mathathane clincs, and drug availability at 94 per cent for vital drugs, 89 per cent for essential and 87 per cent for non-essential drugs.

Regarding infrastructural development, he said the P222.9 million project to bituminise the 20km internal road network started in April 2013 and is expected to be complete in April 2016.

The project has created employment to 283 people mainly from Bobonong and associated villages, he said, adding that the roads would ease movement of traffic and facilitate business activity in the area.

Thune Dam, with a capacity of 90 million cubic meters, will supply 10 villages with water upon completion of a water pipeline which is still at a tendering stage, he said.

He added that the government had set aside funds for the construction of the Platjan Border Post between Botswana and South Africa, and that the multimillion pula project, with associated works, was set to run for 18 months and also employ local people. 

“The completion of the all-weather bridge will bring hope to Bobirwa and serve as the shortest route to the cities of Harare and Johannesburg,” he stated, adding that the bridge would reduce congestion at Martins Drift and create employment opportunities in the area for the people of the three countries.

Mr Kgathi said there would be negotiations between Botswana and South African governments to tar the road from the border to Alldays. 

Regarding food security and employment, the minister said the area was home to Mane Block Holdings in Tsetsebye, Bokomo Richmark in Moletemane, and Talana Farms in Tuli Block, which were major sources of employment and food security for the region and the entire nation.

“Richmark Chicken in Moletemane has created employment to over 300 people and slaughters 10 000 chickens per day to feed the nation,” said the MP, adding he would convince the government to construct the 18 km road from Tsetsebye to the production site to reduce vehicular breakdown.

He will also sanction the construction of a water pipeline from Thune Dam to the production site as production is largely based on water.

Mane Blocks Holdings Milling in Tsetsebye is a stable to: Farmers Pride, Econo and Mmelegi; it employs 44 workers and supplies products to the entire country.

Talana Farm, the heartland of the area, lies at the confluence of Motloutse and Limpopo Rivers; with soils suitable for horticulture, the farm also feeds the entire nation with vegetables.

The farm is on an 1800 ha of which 380 ha are under irrigation; during pick harvesting seasons, Talana has the potential to engage over 800 workers and Mr Kgathi said his desire was to see it continuing to feed the nation. 

He said although floods in the past years disturbed the production area, the farm acted as a buffer for lower grade products from South Africa and assists the CEDA and YDF farmers to penetrate the local market.

“I give critical importance to Talana because it creates employment, and further to that it has a European Union registered ostrich farm which sells meat in countries like Belgium,” he said. 

On tourism, Mr Kgathi said the area had the potential to compete well with the likes of Chobe and Ngamiland due to its abundance of historical heritage sites such as Lepokole, Matshekge, Mmamakwa, and Maiswe hills.

Also found in the area are: Solomon Islands, Thune and Dikgathong dams, as well as the Tuli Block. 

Botswana he said has signed up to a SHALIMPO (Shashe/Limpopo) transfontier with Zimbabwe and South Africa which would attract a lot of tourists into the area.

The legislator wants some lodges to operate more on commercial basis than as farms to further grow tourism.

The tour ended at Tuli Safari Lodge with a game drive. ENDS