01 May 2017

Residents of Toteng and Botalaote have commended their MP, Mr Biggie Butale for coming up with an initiative to raise funds for the construction of computer laboratories and the installation of Information Communication (ICT) peripherals in all 33 schools in his constituency.

Speaking in kgotla meetings in Matenge, Toteng and Botalaote,  on Wednesady,residents applauded the MP for the project, which they said  would be a legacy for their children even after his parliamentary term. Mr Biggie Butale  is also Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry.

A Toteng resident, Mr Kenosi Ntwa pledged his support to the MP and promised that he would accompany the MP up to Francistown.M He implored the able bodied to accompany the MP to Gaborone where cycling would end.

On other issues, in Matenge, Kgosi Kutlwano Matenge thanked God for the rain saying  since they received good rains the harvest was also good.

Kgosi Matenge complained about public officers who always promise services in the presence of the MP and fail to carry out the duties thereafter.

VDC chairperson, Mr Gibson Bafana thanked government for considering their village in the expansion of electricity reticulation this financial year.

He complained about shortage of public officers’ accommodation, classrooms and  lack of transport  especially at the clinic.

Mr Thebe Matenge complained about lack of office for Kgosi and he said that the shortage of office furniture has resulted in Kgosi buying chairs for the storeroom that he uses as an office.

Ms Gaba Tabona decried the increased water tariffs and delay in water connections.

In Toteng, the VDC chairperson, Mr Ngwebula Ngwebula called for the increase in the age of Tirelo Sechaba participants from 30 to 35.

Ms Mmamarotse Chingapane said that she was trained for poverty eradication project three years ago but had not been assisted.

In Botalaote, VDC chairperson, Mr Vincent Mokgopo thanked government for ISPAAD and other programmes.

He informed the MP that residents managed to change the name of the primary school from Toteng-Botalaote to Legola.

Mr Mokgopo requested for construction of the cattle crush that can be used when residents sold their cattle to Botswana Meat Commission.

Mr Kago Moshashane lamented that government used a lot of money on ISPAAD but some tractor owners were not putting enough efforts in ploughing.

He observed that some congested seeds in one place and  suggested that they be trained on row planting.

In response, Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) waterworks engineer, Mr Modisaotsile Keetile promised those complaining about water connections that they would be assisted soon.

He said while water tariffs were increased, the corporation had dealt away with the P20 standard water bill.

Assistant tribal secretary, Mr Goitseone Kefitlhile said the Matenge kgotla would be constructed in the NDP 11.

North District Council secretary, Ms Rachel Jeremiah said council had made an arrangement to lease privately owned houses to try and address shortage of officers’ accommodation in the current financial year.

She advised residents to utilise part of their P10 million constituency share for small projects such as cattle crush and bus shelters as the council did not have a budget for such.

District officer administration, Mr Collen Tubego explained that rollout of poverty eradication programme on smallstock was affected by the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) in the area and as a result there was shortage of goats. ENDS