23 Jan 2017

The Member of Parliament for Boteti East Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe has implored farmers in Letlhakane to keep inventory of their livestock.

MP Lelatisitswe said this during a kgotla meeting in Letlhakane on Wednesday as he encouraged farmers to keep record of their livestock, citing it was inappropriate to hear about their lost or missing cattle from the police.

He said it was essential to have an up-to-date track record which covers movement of their livestock as much as full identification of herdspersons.

Mr Lelatisitswe also called on farmers to take advantage of the current heavy rains and plough their fields to boost national food security and reduce the import bill.

He further encouraged farm owners to desist from child labour, saying they should urge their herdmen to take their children to school rather than keep them at the farms.

MP Lelatisitswe expressed concern that there were a lot of dropouts in Khwee Primary school with majority of them found in the cattleposts.

In addition he informed the residents that a 70 bed hospital has been planned for Letlhakane for the financial year 2018/19. A fully fledged police station he said was also included in NDP 11 and construction would kick-start in 2017.

MP Lelatisitswe was responding to concerns raised by Kgosi Barontshi Kegapetswe who had expressed concern that crime rate was escalating in Letlhakane, most importantly stock theft.

Kgosi Kegapetswe indicated that in most incidents members of the community were aware of stock theft cases in the village but they fail to report.

He encouraged farmers to take responsibility of fighting crime. In addition Kgosi Kegapetswe stated that even during ceremonies such as weddings and funerals people use stolen resources.

The Village Development Committee chairperson Ms Gabosutiwe Keanole complained that they have since been promised a gender office would be opened in Letlhakane but that has not materialised to date. When commenting, one of the residents and also a farmer Mr Meshack Thanke reiterated that stock theft was rampant in Letlhakane.

Mr Thanke complained that there was shortage of planting seeds and tractors.

While Mr Dick Rakonche, complained that pastors should not be found committing crimes, and requested Kgosi Kegapetswe to check if churches operating in Letlhakane were legally registered.

Another farmer Mr Francisco Kgoboko complained that Botswana Meat Commission bought cattle from them at low prices. BOPA