22 Jan 2017

Chairperson of the Village Extension Team Ms Tumani Seganabeng says unfavourable conditions at Mmatshumo is disadvantaging community members from enjoying services that should be provided by officers stationed at the village.

When giving a report to Member of Parliament for Boteti East Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe on Thursday, Ms Seganabeng said the current situation of lack of accommodation and the sorry state of the available accommodation among others has resulted in officers shun working at Mmatshumo.

She also cited the high salinity of Mmatshumo water as a disadvantage saying public officers have resorted to use rainwater stored in tanks.

The chairperson complained that geysers installed in public officers’ houses were dysfunctional due to salinity. She also added that RASA payment was often delayed for too long.

She said there was lack of accommodation for police officers as they were accommodated in Village Development Committee houses, and teachers’ houses among others.

Renovation of houses she said took long noting that termites destroyed teachers’ houses and kgotla offices but the issue has not been addressed.

In addition she said bats have infested public officers’ houses leaving a bad odour in the house, saying they have fears it might cause them some infections.

Principal registered nurse at Mmatshumo clinic, Ms Mosetsana Ditlogolo reiterated that there was lack of accommodation, noting she was posted to Mmatshumo in 2012 but does not have accommodation yet.

Ms Ditlogolo indicated that the clinic establishment has five nurses and a doctor but it was operating with only three without a doctor due to lack of accommodation.

She expressed concern that there was short supply of uniform saying officers were buying for themselves, adding that there was no replacement for transferred officers.

The Village  Development Committee chairperson Mr Masedi Mompati called for debushing of Mmatshumo/Letlhakane road as well as construction of Mmatshumo/Lekhubu road.

Kgosi Keletshwaretse Phetsogang requested water treatment plant, urging Water utilitities Corporation to give the issue the seriousness it deserves. He also called for tarring of 41kilometres Mmatshumo/Mosu road connecting the two villages.

Councilor Goabaone Bolesitswe of Mmatshumo said allocation of land has since been on hold and requested for expansion of water network to areas where there were new plots. He decried lack of consultation with village authorities.

In response Water Works Superintendent at WUC Mr Mmothi Segale said water treatment was a necessity in Mmatshumo. He however said that could only be undertaken if the project was included in the plan.

Mr Segale said since they could not wait for a bigger project due to lack of funds, extension of a water line with a few kilometres to certain point closer to the new plots could be considered depending on availability of resources.

MP Lelatisitswe said he would take all their concerns and grievances to the relevant authorities, adding that it was critical to have a cluster water project inclusive of a treatment plant covering the three villages being Mmatshumo, Mokubilo and Mmea. BOPA