13 Jan 2016

The Member of Parliament for Lentsweletau, Mr Vincent Seretse has told his constituents that the Economic Stimulus Programme packages will focus on infrastructure development and buildings overdue for maintenance.

He said the Ministry of Education and Skills Development would also extend classrooms in schools besides maintenance, adding that Motswakhumo Junior Secondary School was one of them. 

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Lentsweletau, he said the projects would be tendered for and employ Lentsweletau locals.

He said the government would liaise with the buildings department to ensure that every project gets carried out properly.

Mr Seretse also announced to Lentsweletau residents that there would be a donkey slaughter project to be undertaken in their village, adding that it would be exporting its products to China which has been found to be a potential market.

Meanwhile, Lentsweletau Village Development Committee chairperson complained that they do not have a constituency youth officer to provide services to young people, saying this hampers the youth to take up government programmes.

Mr Rodgers Kgatitswe said the office was manned by Tirelo Sechaba volunteers who were challenged in assisting the youth and were unable to cover the whole constituency because of its vastness.

Furthermore, Mr Kgatitswe requested that the Ipelegeng Programme period be extended, and that it should employ more people since a drought has been declared and that people would not be ploughing during the current season.

Regarding Ipelegeng, he said they would look into the issue to see how they could help. 

Mr Seretse said the youth officer issue was critical and that they would investigate the situation.

When commenting, most residents appreciated upcoming projects, saying they would create employment for their children. They also expressed fear that the donkey slaughter would increase donkey theft. 

Residents requested that donkeys earmarked for slaughter should have the owner’s identification in order to prevent incidents of theft.

There  also decried water shortage in the village. Kweneng Water Utilities Corporation chief engineer, Mr Seabe Mabua said the demand for water has increased due to population growth.

Mr Mabua also noted that the Lentsweletau-Mmopane constituency was a large area which covers up to Kopong and Kweneng settlements but only getting supplied by two Sasakwe reservoirs. 

He said they were planning  to ask for a reinforcement from the North-South carrier to supply Kopong as a way of decongesting supply.

Another resident asked for a library in their village, a police station, senior secondary school and a community hall. Mr Seretse said he would inquire whether the Economic Stimulus Programme caters for building maintenance only or even new projects.

Still in Lentsweletau, Mr Seretse went to Motswakhumo Junior Secondary School where he addressed teachers who decried the school’s lack of maintenance and shortage of accommodation. The said it makes their working environment depressing.

The teachers were also concerned that it takes time for one to be transferred, saying they were told transfers have been frozen whereas in other regions people get transfers and promotions.

Another teacher said he wondered why they were told in 2013 that the school has been adopted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry but still remain in a bad state with shortage of equipment. 

Mr Serete said he did not know about the adoption since joining the ministry but assured the school feedback on the matter.

The school head, Mr Teedzani Mkandla said transfers were no different from other regions but that timing was the key factor. Ends