31 Jan 2016

Government will consider re-visiting the P400 compensation paid to farmers after their livestock have been killed for transgressing the buffalo fence.

The fence was erected to prevent cattle from mixing with buffaloes to prevent the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). 

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, who visited Nokaneng in the Ngamiland District, concurred with the residents that the P400 compensation was inadequate. 

He assured them that he would inform the relevant authorities to consider revising the compensation amount. 

The President said it was government’s responsibility to repair the buffalo fence, hence his promise to inform the relevant authorities to fix the fence as per residents’ request. 

President Khama was responding to a concern from Kgosi Kebonyetsala Fish of Nokaneng who in his welcome remarks voiced the residents’ frustration over the P400 compensation.

Kgosi Fish had also expressed his apprehension about the fence, which he said was not maintained making it easy for their livestock to cross into the buffalo zone. 

On other issues, President Khama commended residents who came to the meeting wearing Botswana colours saying he was happy that they were honouring the countdown to Botswana’s 50th anniversary. 

He encouraged others and the public service to follow suit by wearing Botswana colours every Friday.  The President donated football kit, chairs, blankets and food hampers to residents. 

Kgosi Fish praised the poverty eradication programme noting that it had removed most of the people out of abject poverty. 

His said their region had been hard hit by drought and programmes such as Ipelegeng and  LIMID were providing a cushion for people from plunging deeper into poverty. 

Kgosi Fish said the small stock programme,which was catered for through LIMID, was a success in the village. 

He was also ecstatic about the roving torch, which passed through his village recently. 

This torch is a symbol of peace, stability and perpetual harmony that this country is enjoying and its arrival in Nokaneng also brought unity, he noted. 

Kgosi Fish also complained about the delayed constituency tournaments payments. 

About conservation of wildlife in the area, Kgosi Fish said they had established Nokaneng Trust, therefore they wished to be assisted so that it could become operational. 

Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Thato Kwerepe, thanked the residents for honouring the President’s visit by showing up in large numbers. 

He advised the residents to take good care of the gifts that the President had given them. Ends