17 Nov 2016

Some legislators say roads infrastructure affect all aspects of development.

When debating the draft National Development Plan (NDP 11) on November 15, they said businesses depended on effective roads for transporting their goods, industries relied on roads for delivery of goods, people required roads for travel between homes, workplaces, farms and elsewhere in the country

Shashe West MP, Mr Fidelis Molao and Francistown East MP, Mr Buti Billy called on government to consider developing an adequate road network that would support mining activities and other developments in their respective areas.

Mr Molao said the Tonota- Mandunyane (Francistown bypass) would ease traffic congestion in Francistown since it connected many villages in his constituency.

He further said the road would also make easy access in the areas envisaged for the special economic zones in the greater Francistown area.

Mr Billy praised government for the Francistown’s interchange road and Mandunyane-Mathangwane Road, that upon completion would make easy access to other African countries. 

He also called for eastern and western bypasses that would ease traffic congestion in the city roads during pick hours.

He also suggested that government should promote air transport for transporting goods and easing congestion on major roads that connected villages and cities. This, he said would also ease congestion of people in rural areas as they might commute easily from villages nearby cities.

Mmathethe-Molapowabojang MP, Dr Alfred Madigele praised government for access roads infrastructure in the Southern District.

He further called government to harness skills development under Construction Industry Trust Fund for it to produce artisans and craftsmen that would meet the demands and challenges posed by the building and construction industry.

He said brigades should be re-engineered to produce builders readily available for the construction industry.

MP for Good Hope-Mabule, Kgosi Lotlaamoreng II called for provision of internal roads in his constituency and hostels for pupils that commuted daily to schools in Pitsane and Good Hope. 

MP for Kanye North, Mr Patrick Ralotsia said government should provide road infrastructure that supported commercial enterprises in the agriculture sector.

“Roads should be seen to be facilitating employment creation especially in agriculture,” he said.

Mr Ralotsia said government should make accessible roads leading to ranches and fields where there was food production. 

Nata-Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga concurred with other legislators that roads infrastructure was the main driver of economic growth. 

He said the Nata-Francistown road maintenance has been neglected whereas it connected markets in the East Africa. BOPA