04 Sep 2016

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama visited the mining town of Selebi Phikwe on Saturday afternoon where he took a walk along various streets in the Phase I/ Ikageleng and Botshabelo neighbourhoods to meet and greet residents . 

President Khama who was accompanied by MP for Selebi Phikwe East who is also Minister of Infrastructure Science and Technology, Mr Nonofo Molefhi, Member of Parliament for Mmadinare, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila, mayor of Selebi Phikwe, Mr Amogelang Mojuta and deputy mayor, Mr Molefi Pilane as well as senior government officials also visited the BCL Mine.

The President’s tour commenced at Phase I/Ikageleng Ward near Leseding Supermarket located opposite Segomotso Primary School along Ratsie Setlhako road where he was welcomed by residents with ululations.

The residents who were excited to meet President Khama along the streets of Selebi Phikwe also had the opportunity to interact with him and share with him the challenges they come about in life and assistance they needed from government through citizen empowerment programmes such as Poverty Eradication Programme, Youth Development Fund and Gender Affairs funding programme to uplift their livelihoods.

One of the residents, who is a youth, Miss Gracious Amos told President Khama that she was a qualified psychologist, but currently unemployed and requested to be assisted with a caravan to start up a youth counselling centre.

Another resident, Ms Mothusi Rakhudu who is an elderly person requested that she be assisted with three legged pots through the Poverty Eradication Programme so that she could rent them out and make a living to sustain her family livelihood.

Ms Hilda Khumoetsile informed the President that she had applied to be assisted with a jumping castle through the Poverty Eradication Programme so that she could make income to sustain her life hiring it out. However she said her application was not successful and requested President Khama to assist her.

A youth, Mr Letso Monyane said he wanted to engage in farming and requested that he be assisted with funding through Youth Development Fund to purchase livestock and to start cattle rearing project.

While on his visit around the neighbourhood in Phase I/Ikageleng ward, President Khama also made a stop at one of the street vendors located near Ikageleng Kgotla where he bought sweets for children who thronged the street to meet and greet him.

President Khama also visited a house hold where some of the family members are people living with disability. The President proceeded to Botshabelo where he was welcomed by magnitude of residents both young and old.

After visiting Botshabelo ward, President Khama and his entourage paid a surprise visit to BCL Mine where he met some workers at the mine to find out more about the operations of the mine and the challenges the mine faced.ENDS