11 Jan 2016

The recently announced Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) by the government of Botswana seems poised to provide answers to an array of problems that has been a thorn to the people of Digawana village in the Southern District.

Through the programme, introduced last year, government intends among others to expedite backlog eradication, urgently deliver further development through increased spending on short, medium and long term initiatives.

The Assistant Minister of Health Dr Alfred Madigele said during a kgotla meeting he addressed in the village recently that both Digawana primary and Nthwalang junior secondary schools will benefit a great deal from the programme.

“There will be maintenance, construction of new classrooms and teacher’s houses at the two institutions as well as the building of a laboratory at Nthwalang,” he said adding the overhaul maintenance expected to be conducted at the two schools will help identify other areas that need to be taken of.

The Molapowabojang/Mmathethe legislator further revealed to residents that the gravel road that links Gathwane and Good Hope villages will be tarred under ESP.

Dr Madigele also said  through ESP Lejwana village will experience construction of kgotla offices; a package he stated will include a vehicle which he said they should be able to share with Digawana.

Digawana senior chief representative, Kgosi Kefitlhile Kgwakgwe commended the government saying it was important to give credit as and when it is due.

He said in particular that the vehicle that will be allocated Lejwana village will come in handy to nearby villages and help in the day to day execution of Tribal Administration duties.

Although residents appreciated efforts by government to further develop their village and create employment for them they called on the District Health Management Team (DHMT) to consider operating Digawana clinic on a 24 hour basis.

This, they argued, will come as a relief to them and nearby villages especially during cases of emergency at night. Head of nursing Lobatse DHMT, Ms Gadibotsile Motswasele, said although they had also considered the move, shortage of staff needed to qualify Digawana to operate on a 24 hour basis has proved a stumbling block. Ends