08 Jan 2017

Bothatogo Kgosi Galebonwe Leduledi has appreciated the government for the ongoing electrification project in his village.

He said it was worth commending government efforts in finally bringing the development that the village has long requested.

Kgosi Leduledi however said they were still hoping for the construction of a tarred road in their village.

He was speaking when welcoming the Member of Parliament for Ngami Thato Kwerepe also Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration when addressing Kgotla meeting on January 6.

However, Assistant Minister Kwerepe pointed out that the road construction was in the plans although he was not certain when it would take off.

He said the economy was still struggling therefore proposed budgets for ministries have been reduced.

Mr Kwerepe said the meetings were to update the communities in his constituency about Parliament and to appreciate their challenges.

He encouraged beneficiaries of Poverty Eradication programmes to ensure that the projects were sustainable to help themselves and family members by ensuring optimum use of programmes aimed to improve their livelihoods.

The assistant minister said it was disheartening that some beneficiaries failed to take care of their projects, such that some misused the profits or let their small stocks astray.

The government, he said was still faced with economic challenges such that the BCL Mine in Selebi-Phikwe was recently closed and rendered many former employees jobless.

Furthermore, he informed the villagers that fishing has been added to the Poverty Eradication programme packages, therefore encouraged them to utilise the initiative.

Mr Kwerepe also encouraged the residents to respect the Village Development Committee and its decisions.

He said VDC ensured government programmes were well-coordinated in their respective villages.

In their comments, Bothatogo residents decried lack of land for community range due to limited space which they say was caused by the buffer zone fence which was constructed closer to their village.

Mr Ompatile Ditshupo said the buffer zone fence should be relocated or alternatively the ministry of agriculture should provide community range somewhere else. ENDS