09 Jun 2016

Residents of Toteng in the North East District have appealed to government to bring more developments to their village.

Presenting the village’s list of developmental needs during President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s visit on Wednesday, Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson, Mr Ngwebula Ngwebula said, while they were grateful for the various programmes and initiatives aimed at empowering Batswana, they were still in need of several other developments.

Mr Ngwebula cited, among their concerns, a wish for Tirelo Setshaba participants to be given priority whenever opportunities for permanent employment arose in their host departments and institutions.  This, he said, would up participants’ morale as well as contribute to efforts to address the high unemployment rate. 

Furthermore, the VDC chairperson urged government to consider constructing hostels at Pelaelo Junior Secondary School in Makaleng to address the problem of students having to walk long distances to and from school on a daily basis. 

Students from Botalaote, Toteng, Masingwaneng and Matenge walked the long distance to attend classes, something that negatively impacted on their academic results, he said.

Mr Ngwebula also called for the upgrading of Makaleng clinic so it could operate on a 24-hour basis.

On the Ntimbale Challenge, Mr Ngwebula informed the gathering of the annual event’s potential for growth, but indicated that the villages in the vicinity of Ntimbale Dam where the event was held needed to be assisted to popularise and grow the event.  

Responding to some of the issues, the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Thapelo Olopeng said it was government’s wish that Tirelo Setshaba participants be hired on a permanent basis, but highlighted that in the absence of vacancies, not much could be done to make this a reality.

He said government, through his ministry, had been providing financial assistance towards the Ntimbale Challenge.

He pointed out that, while the funds availed each year were not sufficient, government would continue to contribute towards the event, something he was hopeful would add on to efforts to grow the event and bring it to par with other cultural events held in other parts of the country.

For her part, the Minister of Education and Skills Development (MoESD), Dr Unity Dow stated that government was aware of the need for boarding facilities at Pelaelo Junior Secondary School.

She expressed optimism that the situation could get solved through the Economic Stimulus Programme.

On the request for Makaleng clinic to operate on a 24-hour basis, an official from the North East District Health Management Team, Ms Rhoda Phindela informed residents that such a move would only be adopted if circumstances called for it.

She said figures of residents needing the clinic’ services on a 24-hour basis were too low.

She stated, however, that the situation would be monitored so as to increase the clinic’s hours of operation as soon as the need arises.

During the visit, President Khama donated chairs, soccer balls, sports kits, Bibles and blankets. ENDS