04 Jan 2017

MP for Shoshong, , Mr Philip Makgalemele has encouraged Poloka residents to venture into small businesses to better their lives.

When addressing a kgotla meeting at Poloka recently, Mr Makgalemele, who is also Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness commended the youth who stay in urban areas for attending the meeting, saying that their initiatives can help in village development.

The MP informed residents that following their numerous requests for electricity, efforts to connect electricity using solar energy in villages which are far from the power lines are ongoing.

He stated that besides using solar system, government is looking into other ways such as producing electricity from cow dung, planting of the jatrofa tree which can also be used to produce electricity and diesel.

He also updated the community about NDP 11, stating that in April constituencies will be given a budget of P10 million for ESP projects, the amount which will be divided and utilised in village developments such as staff houses, houses for the less privileged, kgotla, street lights and roads.

He assured the residents that efforts would be made to insure that people who benefit from poverty eradication programmes are knowledgeable on what they are doing so that their projects succeed.

In addition, he advised residents not to rely much on given funds, rather come up with ideas on how the government can be assisted, citing a suggestion of Shoshong residents who believe that if families can contribute a cow each, such effort could speed village developments.

Also he noted that government encourages Economic Diversification Drive, saying most of the goods bought outside the country such as crayons, pencils, toilet paper could be made by Batswana youth.

When giving the residents feedback on the State of the Nation Address, MP Makgalemele stated that Botswana is currently faced with a challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality in the economy and that NDP 11 aims to make appropriate actions towards solving such anormallies.

Furthermore, he explained that the plan to construct a tarred road that connects Dibete, Mookane and Machaneng villages could be considered as well for easy transportation of goods to neighboring countries, but in the meantime due to unavailability of funds interlocking bricks could be used for Poloka-Dibete road.

He noted that for quality and improved education system, government is working on network extensions so that Internet can be availed to schools.

Also, he talked about service centres being Shoshong and Otse, which are yet to be improved to offer such services as application for Omang and passports, adding that bringing services closer to the people is the main aim.

For health related issues he indicated that the plan entails construction of Shoshong level 1 primary hospital, which will have about 20 wards.
He also mentioned that they will focus more on preventative care by encouraging communities to have health committees that teach communities about eating well, balanced diet, excessive alcohol intake, and proper exercises.

“Men are very reluctant to go for testing, yet prostate cancer is on the rise and we urge people to visit hospitals for routine tests,” he added For her part, Ms Gobopaone Ketlogetswe, Ngwato Land Board representative, encouraged the residents to register their plots as that would assist them in proper planning of the village map, saying that would also ease electricity and water connection when the layout is complete.

Member of Village Development Committee, Mr Motshereganyi Gabaitumele pleaded with the assistant minister to take into consideration their request of having an ambulance, clinic expansion as the current one suffers shortage of space, thus affecting service delivery. He said a caravan would help. ENDS