29 Nov 2016

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security says life cannot be complete without decent housing and as responsible and caring people we should provide the requisite support to those in need.

Speaking during the handover of two houses in Semolale constructed by Semolale police November 28, Mr Kgathi stated that God did not create human kind to be destitute and as a result people should assist those that require assistance.

Mr Kgathi said the two houses one belonging to Mr Lekadiba Abel and the other to the late Ms Golekwang Abel’s five children bring in  to 43 total number of houses constructed by members of Botswana Police Service countrywide.

He said the houses were an achievement for which the police should take pride in and continue to nurture into the future.

Mr Kgathi also Member of Parliament for Bobonong said nationally 672 houses have been delivered country wide under the same spirit of Presidential Housing Appeal and showered the Semolale Police with praises for going beyond normal duty demands to plough back to the community.

He also commended  the community for raising funds towards the construction of such houses.

He said, the “effectiveness of the Botswana Police Service in its overall delivery of its mandate of ensuring public safety and security was firmly premised on community partnership that the organisation has built and nurtured over the years”.
Mr Kgathi also paid tribute to the President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama for coming up with the idea of providing decent housing to deserving citizens.

 

The minister said other programmes include poverty eradication, volunteer programme, ISPAAD, affirmative action, Youth Development Fund and many others with the aim of ultimately becoming self-reliant.

On another note Mr Kgathi thanked the police for providing maximum security to the communities of Semolale and the surrounding areas noting that in the past there was a complaint raised by the people about cross border crime that targeted livestock.
He stated that his ministry was quick to listen to people’s concerns and deployed members of the Special Support Group and Botswana Defence Force to arrest crime.

What remained a cause for concern in the area he said was escalating cases of stock theft  and appealed to residents to help the police to arrest the situation.

Concerning the Semolale Police, he stated that the expansion of the facility was in the offing and was hopeful that by January next year a contractor would have been identified.
Mr Kgathi donated P600 towards the reticulation of water and two blankets to each family.

Commissioner of police Mr Keabetswe Makgophe state that the two houses marked yet another social responsibility agenda by Botswana Police to provide basic need for human survival.
Mr Makgophe said the houses would restore dignity and pride to the Abel family and added that the project would further strengthen police and community relations in tackling crime and other social ills not only in Semolale but across the country.
Mr Donald Smith of Leradu in Tuli Block who is the primary sponsor for the houses said it was a wonderful feeling to help those in need  and thanked government and the police for providing decent housing to the needy.
Semolale police station commander supt Gaodirelwe Motlhagodi stated that the project started in April this year and took them six months to complete.
Mr Smith donated over P30 000, while the community and police raised P23 000 and P16 000 respectively. ENDS