21 Dec 2016

Residents of Makuta have proposed that government should prioritise national roads on the basis of the magnitude of traffic and returns brought by the road.

They told their Member of Parliament Mr Edwin Batshu in a kgotla meeting on Monday (December 19) that A3 road (Francistown/Nata), which links to A1 road and other service centres had not been included in the National Development Plan 11 (NDP11).

Updating them on NDP 11 projects, Mr Batshu who is also the Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs said due to financial constraints, Nkange constituency roads  would not be done during NDP 11 including the A3 road despite its bad state.

It was in this regard that the residents suggested that A3 road, which had financial benefits to the country, should have been given priority since it was in a bad state.

The road, they said, was used by tourists and heavy trucks that crossed to northern Africa.

One resident, Mr Keorapetse Mafa asserted that A3 as a major road should had been among the major projects for NDP 11.

He said it would be wise if the government could consider refurbishing A3 rather than focus on roads that would only reduce traffic along A1 but with little or no returns.

He said government was maintaining Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agricultural Development (ISPAAD) to encourage Batswana to plough enough food to feed the nation and even export excess.

He said farmers should be assisted with access roads to the fields because during rainy seasons it becomes difficult for farmers to go to the fields and take advantage of the moisture.

For his part, Mr Batshu lamented that because of financial constraints the government was unable to cover most of the intended projects under NDP11.

He nonetheless stated that many projects which included the construction of Tutume internal roads, construction of 72 beds primary hospital as well as construction of Makuta clinic are going to be done within the six years of the plan.

He said government would continue with ISPAAD, Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development as well as the fight for Foot and Mouth disease. ENDS