07 Dec 2015

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama has informed Tsetsebye residents that Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) is doing all it can to supply them with portable water.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting at Tsetsebye on Thursday December 3, President Khama said currently water was a challenge, and that WUC took over from councils at a time when the country was faced with low rains.

President Khama said WUC was working round the clock to ensure that Batswana have access to portable water. 

He was responding to concerns raised by residents that they were faced with acute water shortage in their village.

Concerning the Tsetsebye/Moletemane road, President Khama said he understands that Moletemane was hosting Bokomo Richmark which feeds the whole nation, and that the ministry concerned would be engaged to prioritise it. 

He said production zones such as Moletemane would be priotised to help them have access to markets.

During the meeting Moletemane together with Limpopo-Lipadi Lodge donated through the President an amount of P5 350 to families of Matsha students who were recently involved in a road accident.

President Khama further informed residents that his visit was solely to greet them and present gifts to them. 

He donated 30 chairs to the kgotla, Bibles, track suits and kits to various social clubs, blankets to the elderly and needy persons.

He was accomapined by  ministers, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo of Transport and Communications, Mr Thapelo Olopeng of youth, sport and culture, Mr Prince Maele of lands and housing, Mr Slumber Tsogwane of local government and rural development and area Member of Parliament, Mr Shaw Kgathi who is also Minister of Justice, Defence and Security. 

Answering concerns, Mr Tsogwane said last year 286 posts for headmen of arbitration were allocated with Bobonong area given four posts.

For his part, Minister Maele appealed to Batswana to seek plots in other areas rather than focusing only in their areas of origin to curb a situation whereby they complain of shortage of land.

He said the idea behind integrated farming was to allow farmers to keep their animals within their fenced fields, but that there was a concern some people have drilled boreholes without the permission of the land board and advised them to liaise with authorities before they drill boreholes.

Meanwhile, the Selibe Phikwe water management superintendent, Mr Lucas Makepe admitted that water in the area was a concern, saying three boreholes that supply the villages of Tsetsebye and Mathathane have dried up and were pumping from one borehole to supply the two villages.

Mr Makepe said the tender to construct a water pipeline from Thune Dam to supply the area  with portable water has been floated. 

He explained that as a result of poor rains boreholes have dried and have to alternate water pumping between the two villages. ENDS