27 Feb 2017

Government incurs large maintenance costs due to vandalism, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said at Kuke on February 24.

Officially handing over Ghanzi District Economic Stimulus Programme facilities for Kuke and Xanagas primary schools, Mr Tsogwane called on beneficiaries to desist from damaging facilities.

He was worried that government spent huge amounts of money even before the planned cyclic maintenance period elapsed because of vandalism.

He appealed to parents and students to look after public facilities to reduce unnecessary expenditure.

“Government did its part, so it is up to you to utilise these facilities with great care and responsibility,” the minister stated, calling for a change of attitude towards the use of public facilities.

Minister Tsogwane pleaded with parents to teach children how to responsibly use facilities, so that they benefit them.

Such behaviour, he said, would allow government to channel money that could have been used for maintenance to other projects.

As the populations grows it calls for more amenities such as schools and clinic, he said.

“During these hard times, we must learn to do more and better with less,” said Mr Tsogwane.

The minister officially handed four teachers’ houses and three toilet blocks with 27 cubicles to Kuke community while Xanagas Primary School got four classrooms and three toilets, also with 27 cubicles.

Member of Parliament for Ghanzi North, Mr Noah Salakae hailed the construction of facilities, saying they would bring dignity to the beneficiaries.

He however decried lack of water at Kuke, saying the situation could frender the toilets redundant.

Ghanzi District chairperson, Mr Thato Tshweneyagae said ESP projects brought a lot of experience and skill transfer to local companies.

He said the facilities would address sanitation and accommodation issues and boost morale and academic performance at the schools.

Meanwhile, one of contractors, Mr Ngoni Monamari of Pleasure Enterprises said they gained a lot of experience when they were engage in projects of a larger magnitude. ENDS