01 Feb 2017

Selebi Phikwe Referral Hospital will undergo reconstruction under National Development Plan 11. Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse explained that the project to reconstruct the hospital was shelved during NDP10 due to insufficient funds and this time around funds will be availed to pursue it.

Mr Keorapetse said this when addressing residents of Selebi Phikwe during a community meeting held at Segomotso Primary School recently.

He also indicated that the Selebi Phikwe drainage system project, which was shelved in NDP 10 due to unavailability of funds, will also be implemented in NDP 11.

On other issues, the MP said that the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs is in the process of submitting a bill before Parliament to amend the citizenship law to allow Batswana to have dual citizenship in Botswana and other countries in order for them to enjoy the services and benefits of being a Motswana as well as a citizen of a foreign country of choice. He encouraged Batswana to embrace this bill.

Further, MP Keorapetse said he intends to submit a motion before Parliament that proposes that the Department of Mining and Geological Engineering under the faculty of Engineering and Technology at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology be moved to Selebi Phikwe. He said this move would benefit scholars as they would be able to utilise BCL Mine and its mine shaft to pursue their studies and practicals.

Mr Keorapetse further said in the last Parliament session he was made aware that there were some investors who hold interest with regards to running the BCL Mine.

He requested that government consider to lease out or sell the mine to the investors as soon as possible so that the mine could start operating and provide employment for residents of the mining town who lost their jobs when the mine was put under provisional liquidation.

The legislator mentioned that other investors had expressed interest to  set up an oxygen production plant, a fabric factory firm and a pharmaceutical plant in Selebi Phikwe.

Regarding SPEDU, the MP said ever since its induction nine years ago the organisation had facilitated the creation of 334 jobs, which represents an average of 37 jobs created annually. However, he mentioned that although the organisation had plans in place to help diversify the economy of the region and create more jobs for Batswana, it  should fast track its agenda to help resuscitate the economy of Selebi Phikwer.

For her part, councillor for Thakadiawa, Mrs Evelyn Kgodungwe advised parents in the mining town to visit schools and interact with teachers to get first hand information on the children’s performance and challenges and also to work hand in hand with teachers to improve results.

She also advised parents to be cautious and take care of their children during the rainy season as they would be prone to being affected by water borne diseases such as diarrhoea and malaria due to mosquitoes.

She said she was worried by the increasing numbers of defaulters on ARV treatment. She says most of the people who default are mine workers who were using private doctors when they were still employed. She therefore encouraged the mine workers to accept change and go for treatment at government clinics. BOPA