14 May 2017

Some 97 destitute persons in Boatlaname received blankets from Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama to help them stay warm during the winter season.
They were also given food basket, a gesture they highly appreciated during President Khama’s visit to the village on Saturday.
When welcoming the President, Kgosi Shima Mojalemotho of Boatlaname emphasised the need for the village to have electricity connection. Having been declared a fully fledged village, he said Boatlaname would have long made progress in terms of development had electricity been connected to their village.

He said this was in view of the fact that society today was living in the modern world where everything was dependent on electricity.
“Lack of electricity has stalled developments in this village,” he said. Kgosi Mojalemotho also noted the need to satisfy water demand in his village. He praised President Khama for having maintained peace that exists in the country.
Giving an update on the status of developments in the village, chairperson of the Village Development Committee (VDC), Mr Gordon Modukanele sought the President’s intervention regarding the state of solar panels at the health post following renovations.

He said the solar panels were not put back and as a result, the nurses carried out their duties in the dark during emergencies at night thereby compromising service delivery.
He was however grateful that the health post will be upgraded into a clinic but advised that it would have been wise if a maternity wing was included.
Mr Modukanele expressed concern that for a health post that served about 300 people, they had to travel to Sojwe to access services of a doctor.
On other issues, the VDC chairperson also briefed President Khama about the state of the vehicle allocated to the tribal administration which he said had been parked for three years without clear explanation of what could have been the problem.

He said the vehicle, whose condition has deteriorated was alleged to have been due for service while later on a problem of battery surfaced.
He noted that while the clinic also operated without a vehicle, the one in question would have been handy in terms of service provision in the village had it been attended to on time.
During comments, residents requested for a guard house at the clinic. They also expressed concern at a high rate of stock theft in the village. While they appreciated the President’s programmes and initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty, they said their village lagged behind in terms of accessing them.

Responding to challenges of water and electricity, President Khama noted that he will see how the responsible ministries will help address the problem while response will be given in two weeks time.
Regarding stock theft, he advised farmers to take care of their livestock and advised Kgosi Mojalemotho to come up with initiatives that may help curb stock theft.
Area MP Mr Liakat Kably expressed hope that the President’s visit will answer residents’ plea for water and electricity connection.
“Boatlaname Primary is always the last in Primary School Leaving Examinations. Part of this is attributed to lack of electricity,” he said.
He said water and electricity connection would help the village develop because of its favourable location on the Molepolole/Shoshong road. The President also donated 30 chairs, solar lamps, football kits and 10 Bibles. ENDS