31 Jan 2016

Residents of Marapong have been implored to play a role in developing their area.

The Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele, said it was not easy for government to do everything for the nation, due to financial constraints.

He was responding to an issue raised by the Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson, Ms Esther Mampori, during  a kgotla meeting recently.

Mr Makgalemele implored the residents to make use of committees such as the Village Extension Teams to take up development projects in their villages.

He added that almost all villages had produced many people who held different positions, which through their partnership and connections they could assist  villages to make a difference in terms of funding projects.

Mr Makgalemele further stated that some developments could be done through self-reliance, which is all about the communities coming together for a common goal and raise funds.   

Projects, which require a lot of money to be funded, he said, are the ones, which should be left for the government to undertake but people should understand that such projects are not going to be done all at once.

Ms Mampori had informed the assistant minister that they had shortage of classrooms at the two primary schools, which led to some classes being taught outside.

At Mampori Primary School, the ablution block needed to be refurbished.

In addition, she said since the schools re-opened this year, there was no food for students and as such parents had to give their children food to eat at school and this became a challenge for students whose parents could not afford.

VDC chairperson for Semitwe, Mr Dominic Masalila, said the junior school, which catered for the two villages and other surrounding villages, was congested.

He noted that the boarding facility was meant to accommodate 82 students , but it had excesses of 180 students.

In his response, Mr Makgalemele promised the residents to take up the issues at the schools with the leadership at their regional offices in Francistown. Ends