20 Jun 2013

Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu has condemned residents of Suping in the outskirts of Molepolole for threatening to boycott elections because they do not benefit from social safety nets.

Speaking during kgotla meetings he addressed at Suping and Mmanoko on June 19, Mr Batshu beamoaned the threats as destructive and counter-productive. He advised residents to channel their complaints through their area MP. 

Residents of Suping complained about of lack of social amenities in their area and threatened to boycott elections if the situation would not change. The minister advised residents that although they had the right to complain, they should bear in mind that the country was faced with the global economic crisis that hampered any intentions to carry-out new projects.

Mr Batshu called on the office of the district commissioner to mobilise programme officers to help Suping residents to access poverty eradication programmes.

Mrs Sekipa Setshwantso said Suping lacked behind in terms of social amenities including shortage of potable water, a situation that compelled the buying of water at P4 per 20 litres.

Ms Ontumetse Tshekiso complained that since the inception of the poverty eradication programme, none of the residents had ever benefited from the programme.

Residents further complained about the ill-treatment of orphans by relatives, adding that this led to high school drop-outs. The situation, they said, was prevalent in the area and condemned social workers for not acting despite numerous attempts to bring the situation to their attention.

Other issues raised by Suping residents were the misuse, by parents, of the recently donated bicycles by President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama to ease transportation for school going children.

Ms Keamogetse Mooki, social worker for Kweneng District said the selection process for beneficiaries was on-going while the delay was on the purchasing of the related materials.

Meanwhile residents of Mmanoko reiterated their complaints relating to the illegal mining of sand despite strategies to curb the situation. Mr Batshu however assured them of the minister’s intervention measures through formulating a statutory law that would be used to curb the appalling state of affairs.

Gamodubu kgosi, Mr Leboko Keletso called on Minister Batshu’s intervention in finding ways to assist Batswana of the Bazezuru tribe in Gamodubu to acquire national identity cards.  Ends