15 Nov 2017

Mafhungo/Hubona residents have been informed that their request to President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama during a kgotla meeting to have allowance for those providing donkey carts services to students staying far away from school be increased has been granted.

Tutume Sub-district council deputy district commissioner, Mr Michael Chilimba made the update during a briefing on taking services to the people in Mafhungo/Hubona recently.

Kgosi Tendani Manyiwa noted that they had pleaded with President Khama to increase the allowance because donkey carts owners refused to take up the job claiming that the allowance was low.

In his update, Mr Chilimba noted that they had received a correspondence that the allowance had been increased from P750 to P1 000.

He however implored them to take up the initiative since government was making an effort to assist parents residing far away from schools so that the students could be transported to and from schools.

He further noted that making such a provision, government did not take away the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children go to school properly.

On other issues, Kgosi Manyiwa said they were surprised that government had for some time said it was phasing out health posts and upgrading existing ones to clinics.

But in their situation, through the constituency fund a new  health post was being built for them.

He however said as a new village, they welcomed the development.

He nonetheless emphasised the need to upgrade the facility to a clinic in future to cater for the growing population.

In his response, Mr Chilimba said he would take up the issue with health departments.

On other updates, he informed residents that taking services to the people initiative geared towards serving people at their respective areas.

He implored the community to make good use of the initiative to meet their officers and discuss issues of concern.

He also said through interaction, public officers would update them on government policies and programmes such as Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).

He explained that ESP would last for three years and as such projects would be done in different phases.

He also informed them that the district commissioner’s office  had been moved from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to the Office of the President. Again, he said their main mandate is to coordinate developments in the districts. BOPA