07 Jul 2013

Some residents of Maun were happily surprised  when President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama visited them at their homes last Thursday.

The President was accompanied by Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi and the Assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr Vincent Seretse.

President Khama’s walkabouts have become very popular countrywide and provide him with the opportunity to interact with ordinary Batswana so as to appreciate what government can do to improve the lives of Batswana.

It was thus no surprise that everyone came out to greet the President and tell him about their daily struggles as he made his way into individual homes.

Some could not hold back their excitement as they saw the President in their midst.  

One Ms Sianang Sarreel, an elderly woman of Borolong ward told the President that she has a bad leg and was due to have gone for a check-up, but due to lack of funds she could not go.

“My right leg has been re-inforced with steel irons and you can see it is very swollen and I cannot walk properly,” she said.

She pleaded with the President  for help.

President Khama assured Ms Sarreel that he would ask the Minister of Health, Dr John Seakgosing to visit her in order to map a way forward with him on what assistance she requires.

Some youth of Borolong ward who also had the opportunity to interact with President Khama decried the delay of youth funds which they had applied for.

“Brigadier George Tlhalerwa, who is my senior private secretary,  will look into that and find out why the Department of Youth is delaying with responses to your applications and he will get back to you,” said President Khama.

The President also visited Ms Mmadikoko Malela who resides in Bombadi ward with her eight children and 12 grandchildren.

He found that there were two unfinished houses belonging to her daughters, Gaosenatla Goatalwa and Keoikantse Goatalwa who appealed to the President for funds to finish the two houses.

They informed the President that they need about P7 000 to finish the two houses, to which he asked his senior private secretary to assist with acquiring such funds.

President Khama also gave them blankets which they expressed gratitude and also thanked him for his continued assistance to Batswana.

Also in Bombadi ward, President Khama visited Mr Sambiso Sebetela, who is an elder.

He complained about the unavailability of water.

“We sometimes go for three weeks without water and we have to wake up at odd hours to get a drop,” said Mr Sebetela.

Mr Sebetela complained that Water Utilities Corporation does not communicate with residents regarding the water issue in Maun.

President Khama assured Mr Sebetela that the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila will look into the issue since he had been informed that the water situation in Maun was improving.

Ms Gabaikanngwe Modumo, who stays with Mr Sebetela told President Khama that she applied for goats through the Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) programme at the Chanoga poverty eradication pitso but up until now, she has not been assisted.

President Khama assured her that Brigadier Tlhalerwa would look into it and give her feedback.

Residents who had the chance to meet President Khama appealed to him to continue helping Batswana who are struggling to make ends meet.

They said his flagship programmes of eradicating abject poverty are essential to attaining the country’s Vision 2016 and as such government employees who are tasked with rolling them out should work hard at making sure that the people who need them are assisted. Ends