31 Jan 2016

Vice President Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi has implored public servants to deliver on their mandate and ensure services reach the public.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Matsiloje, Mr Masisi also urged public officers to familiarise themselves with the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP). He said failure to do so would result in denying Batswana opportunities.

Mr Masisi explained that stimulus programme was built on the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) concept and urged Batswana to register their businesses and express their interest once they were advised through the DailyNews.

He said although most of the ESP projects would focus on construction such as building clinics, classrooms, science laboratories and teacher’s houses, projects on food processing and packaging would also be funded.

He said to improve the lives of citizens, the government has improved programmes offered by the Department of Gender Affairs to ensure that not only groups benefit, but also individuals. In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Eric Moipolai implored the government to strengthen measures of controlling elephant movement in the area.

Kgosi Moipolai said pastoral farmers have resorted to arable farming following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), but that elephants have impoverished them by destroying the crops.

He added that to add salt to injury, farmers whose crops were destroyed in the previous season have not yet been compensated.

On other issues, he told the Vice President that as Botswana would be celebrating the golden jubilee, his village would be celebrating its centenary.

The Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson, Mr Joel Mpetsane lamented that following the outbreak of FMD people were assessed by the Social and Community Development (S&CD), but were not assisted.

Mr Mpetsane said other than counselling, they were expecting assistance in the form of relief packages. He said villagers have a challenge of illegal immigrants and suggested that the number of police officers be increased in the area. He also suggested that more helicopters should be bought for the police in order to intensify patrols along the Botswana/Zimbabwe border.

Mr Mpetsane complained that despite 70 per cent of the Dikgatlhong Dam located in the Matsiloje areas, people were denied fishing licenses.

Mr Simon Lephalo asked the government to consider increasing public servants salaries, and he attributed their lack of motivation to deliver quality services to poor salaries.

Mr Paul Kgaje of Shashe Bridge thanked the government for the construction of the Tonota-Francistown road and the link road to his village. 

He, however, lamented that the link road only ends at the kgotla, and that the road to the clinic was in a bad condition.

In response, Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele said the issue of public servants salary increase was handled by the bargaining council and other relevant stakeholders.

He explained that the government continues to improve the welfare of its employees and has since ensured that those who go on study leave get a full salary for a period of three years. He said in addition, public officers were allowed to engage in businesses and that the government has also included those on D4 salary scale and below in the SHHA programme.

Senior Superintendent Chabaesele Mazebedi said the population in the area compared to the number of police officers on the ground. He explained that in addition to the 45 police officers at Matsiloje Police Station, there were SSG camps in Matshelagabedi, Matsiloje and Matopi and that there was also a BDF camp.

North East District Council secretary, Mr Charles Amos said following the assessment, the number of Ipelegeng beneficiaries was increased to make sure there was food on the table for some of those who were awaiting restocking.

Mr Motlhaeletsi Gosalamang, senior wildlife warden, explained that some people in the Matsiloje area would be given fishing licenses under the Poverty Eradication Programme. 

He explained that those in Robelela were given licenses swiftly because their assessment was completed earlier than those in Matsiloje.

Mr Masisi promised to take some of the wildlife issues with the relevant minister who would also visit residents to hear their concerns first hand. 

The Vice President implored the community to work with the police in order to address the problem of illegal immigration.

On the issue of the road to Shashe Bridge clinic, Mr Masisi said he could not promise anything yet because of the amount that would be involved, but that he would take the issue up with the minister responsible. 

Proposing a vote of thanks, area MP, Mr Samson Guma said although he was part of the government, he was still not convinced that public servants should be allowed to engage in businesses as it would open the door for corruption. Ends