04 Sep 2016

Maun Administration Authority (MAA) councillors have welcomed the proposal to declare Lake Ngami a planning area.

The councillors gave a request  for the move the green light last week in a council meeting in Maun after the Sub-council’s physical planner Mr Abednico Sebedi saying the declaration would ensure efficient, cost effective as well as sustainable land development.

Mr Sebedi said the recommendation for Lake Ngami was informed by the envisaged plan to declare Sehithwa a Sub -district headquarters and a civic area.

The upgrading of Sehithwa therefore would mean infrastructure developments, and the anticipated spill over from the nearby Khoemacau mines is likely to increase plot applications in Sehithwa.

Mr Sebedi noted that the envisaged developments and consequences for Sehithwa therefore called for the Lake Ngami planning which was inclusive of the neighbouring villages of Toteng, Bodibeng and Bothatogo.

 The communities around Lake Ngami, he said had warmly welcomed the declaration, with the Khwai/Mababe councillor Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotho worrying that the implementation was taking long leading to communities losing patience and not complying.

Bojanala councillor Mr Luke Motlaleselelo, who welcomed the development, also encouraged the physical planning department to improve on service delivery, saying community members were frustrated by the delay when they wanted to develop their plots.

Shorobe/Matsaudi councillor Mr Oabile Chombo said planning was a good thing, only such plans had a way of disadvantaging communities’ way of life, citing  community and cultural activities.

In response, Mr Sebedi said the approval of the planning was upon the minister. 

He said the planning appreciated existing and community livelihoods such as cattle posts and ranches.

Mr Sebedi said the intention was to control planning and not to negatively impact communities’ way of life. ENDS