15 May 2017

Sowa residents have requested government to stop the relocation of government departments to Nata.
The residents told the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Gladys Kokorwe in a kgotla meeting recently that relocating government departments to Nata would slow the townships growth.
They complained that even the office of the Member of Parliament for Nata/Gweta, Mr Polson Majaga was relocating to Nata..

Mr Lovemore Phili argued that the MP’s office had made people visit to Sowa Town. He noted that the soda ash mining town had no banking facilities following the closure of Barclays Bank Botswana, citing lack of business.
He said with government being the major player in the development of the town, it would be of paramount importance to have government departments in Sowa. He also argued that it would be futile for the government to try to attract investors to the town while it was moving away.

Mr Phili asked Ms Kokorwe to mediate on the issue, noting that she was the chief executive officer of the town some 27 years ago.
In response, Ms Kokorwe noted that developments came at a slow pace and required different stakeholders’ input. She said relocating the MP’s office was done to put it at a central location where all villages under the constituency could easily access it.

She said Nata had been identified as a central location, adding that if their request for a sub district was accepted, it would be in Nata.
Ms Kokorwe however promised to take the matter with relevant authorities. ENDS