12 Apr 2016

The Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson for Makuta, Mr Alakanani Thabiwa, says they are at an advanced stage to acquire a plot for a clinic.

This came after the President, Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama visited Makuta where he promised to build a clinic for the residents.

Mr Thabiwa explained that they had been in constant communication with Tutume Sub-land Board and their communication was about to give positive results.

He said they were waiting for the land board to show them the plot and council physical planners to take up the process of designs.

In addition, he noted that since the President’s visit, they had seen a lot of changes in terms of things they had long requested, citing that the roads department had started to install road signs along the main road to Nswazwi and very soon they would set up a pedestrian crossing along the road next to the primary school.

He said arrangements had been made to fill up burrow pits and already machinery was in place to do the work.

Mr Thabiwa, however, complained that they were still faced with water challenges, adding that some people were forced to travel long distances to fetch water to use in their households.

He informed their legislator that crime was escalating in their village and offenders were known people being the children of Makuta.

Mr Thabiwa requested that they be assisted with law enforcement officers because at Nswazwi where they were served from, two officers one passed away  and the other transferred had not been replaced.

In his response, the area MP Mr Edwin  Batshu said the fight against crime needed partnerships between the community and the police, adding crime fighting committee should take up their role and help fight crime.

He further advised parents to talk to their children about crime and caution them about the consequences of being involved in criminal activities.

He said funds for construction of the clinic had been availed although it was not through Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), noting that they should intensify in availing land so that the project could be started.

Furthermore, he informed them that water reticulation was still going to remain a challenge since funds were not yet available to do the pipeline from Ntimbale Dam to Nkange constituency.

On other updates, he informed the residents that at the last parliament, they passed a law governing non banking institutions since there was a realization that some of the institutions among them cash loans, insurance companies and furniture shops were taking advantage of Batswana by having terms and conditions, which are not clear or explained to their clients. ENDS