17 Mar 2016

Molepolole South MP Dr Tlamelo Mmatli has urged the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) to upgrade the A12 highway linking Molepolole and Gaborone.

Dr Mmatli was commenting on the Minister of Transport and Communication’s budget proposal presentation in Parliament on Wednesday.

Minister Tshenolo Mabeo had earlier requested Parliament to approve a recurrent budget proposal of over P2 billion for the 2016/17 financial year. The largest share of the budget being over P570 million would go to the Central Transport Organisation followed by the Department of Information Technology with over P460 million and Department of Roads with over P431million, he said.

The remaining 28 per cent of the budget, Mr Mabeo said would be shared by three other departments namely, Corporate Services, Road Transport and Safety, Telecommunications and Postal Services. 

For the ministry’s planned development projects, Minister Mabeo requested for over P1.3 billion for the 2016/17 financial year. The bulk of this budget would go to the upgrading of existing roads under the bitumen and trunk roads, telecommunications Development and Air Transport Infrastructure programs. 

Further debating on the budget proposal, MP Mmatli stated that the road has experienced traffic congestion for a long time, especially the segment passing through Molepolole which renders traffic flow too slow.

He thus called for the road to be upgraded into a dual carriageway so that it can accommodate heavy traffic. 

Alternatively, he said the Molepolole by-pass road proposed under the Economic Stimulus Programme should be constructed quickly to ease traffic congestion on the A12 highway. 

Contributing to the MTC P3.3 billion budget proposal for the 2016/17 financial year, Dr Mmatli also requested the ministry of Transport and Communications to tar access roads linking villages of Gamodubu and Mmanoko to the A12 highway. 

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) legislator further asked the ministry to tar the roads linking Mmanoko and Gamodubu to Gakgatla village in the Kweneng District.

The MP for Palapye Mr Moiseraela Goya commended the ministry of transport for having developed good roads infrastructure around the country. He however raised concern about the increasing number of people who perish in road accidents, calling on the ministry to treat the issue as a serious concern. He called for establishment of a road safety agency which will coordinate an intervention strategy.

“Our country has been seriously hit by a rising number of road accidents. There should be an intervention like we did when we were affected by the HIV/ Aids issue. There should be a decision to develop a road safety agency which will be responsible for coordinating all the components of road safety measures. I think the agency will go a long way in addressing the issue of road accidents,” Mr Goya said.

Furthermore, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) legislator asked the ministry to leverage on the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for teaching and learning in public schools. 

He said the chalkboard should be replaced by a smart board.

The MP for Francistown East Mr Buti Billy said the budget was small since MTC is facing a lot of deficiencies, including shortage of staff and facilities in Francistown.  He said the A1 highway linking Gaborone and Francistown should be refurbished. He also thanked the ministry for re-introducing a passenger train that will service the A1 railway route. 

Tlokweng MP, Ms Same Bathobakae asked the MTC to upgrade the Tlokweng Post Office and make the Tlokweng–Zeerust road a dual carriageway.

Bobirwa MP Mr Shaw Kgathi asked the ministry to upgrade the Bobonong Post Office. He commended Botswana Telecommunications Cooperation for its exemplary cooperate social responsibility in supporting sporting activities through sponsorship of the beMOBILE Premiership and the BOFINET Softball League. Ends