12 Jul 2015

Suspension of fishing at Lake Ngami was not only done to protect the environment, but to also ensure proper control of fishing.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Sehithwa on Thursday (July 09), President  Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama said some of the residents had complained that people came as far as the neighbouring countries for fishing at the expense of the locals.

The President said in addition to ensuring proper sanitation for the fisherman, there was need to control fishing in the lake to ensure only locals benefitted from the resource.

He also noted that there was uncontrolled export of fish from the lake by some Batswana. President Khama explained that when the suspension is repealed, the relevant ministry would have put in place measures to ensure that the community as whole benefit and he implored the residents to form trusts for that purpose.

He also implored the community to start contemplating ways of having a lodge at the lake so that some people could be employed.

On other issues, the President implored the public servants to make sure that services are availed closer to the people despite the shortage of resources.

He stated that he was aware that due to recession, resources such as buying of vehicles and office construction were suspended but advised that officers should utilise the little that was available to avail services to the people.

He lamented that the issue of shortage of vehicles in the public service was in some instances worsened by some reckless drivers who were involved in accidents that could have been avoided should they have driven carefully.

The President was responding to issues raised by Kgosi Boitiro Dithapo and VDC chairperson, Ms Malatelo Molathiwa.

Kgosi Dithapo had decried shortage of office accommodation and vehicles for the government departments that he said led to inadequacy in service delivery.

He called for the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) 8 that provided for Sehithwa to be a sub district headquarters.

Ms Molathiwa had informed the meeting that though some people decried the suspension of fishing in Lake Ngami, the residents of Sehithwa appreciated the decision.

She noted that due to lack of ablution facilities at the lake, their livestock was in danger as over 2 000 people used the bush to relieve themselves.
She explained that this led to livestock consuming harmful waste.

Ms Molathiwa also thanked the government for Ipelegeng, saying through the programme two classrooms, hostels at the primary and junior secondary schools respectively were renovated.

She however lamented the lack of a 24 hour clinic in the village explaining that the current clinic did not have a doctor and maternity wing, a thing that she said was risky because patients travelled 100km to Maun whenever a need arises.

For his part, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane explained that prior to recession, government had taken a decision to build 17 sub-districts in the country as a way of bringing services closer to the people.

Mr Tsogwane explained that while the construction of sub districts was still pending, services could be availed through service centres. Ends