10 Jan 2018

Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Alfred Madigele has implored residents of Maokane to be patient with the development process.

Dr Madigele was reacting to complaints raised by some residents during a meeting he addressed in the village on January 9.

Some residents among them Ms Baithati Mmatli had complained that some development projects particularly the tarring of the Jwaneng/Maokane gravel road which they were promised during the 2014 campaign trail was not forthcoming.

Dr Madigele also area Member of Parliament for Mmathethe/Molapowabojang explained that development was a process not an event. 

He said the tarring of the road was still high up in his priority list for the area. 

He shared that he had recently invited dikgosi from Maokane and surrounding areas to a meeting with the transport minister, Mr Kitso Mokaila in Gaborone.  

Dr Madigele however advised residents not to lose heart adding a midterm review of development projects might present a window of opportunity for them.

On other issues, Dr Madigele informed residents that two staff houses would soon be built in the village through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP). 

He explained that the tender which was awarded in 2016 has been delayed by seven months due to some unforeseeable circumstances which were beyond the contractor’s control. 

He said some delays stemmed from the fact that Water Utilities Corporation have yet to remove some underground water supply infrastructure to pave way for the project.

Dr Madigele also shared that Maokane council ward would get a share of the constituency fund to renovate four staff houses. 

He revealed that they experienced some delays transferring the project money to Mabutsane Sub-district Council from the main council. 

However, he assured residents that they would make up for the lost time to ensure the project was completed within time and budget. 

He said they would chalk down some of complications they experienced along the way down to experience.

Meanwhile Dr Madigele has informed residents that each of the 10 Council wards in his constituency would get P950 from the P10 million worth of constituency fund the next financial year forward, and encouraged residents to come up with viable development projects that would benefit many.

Another resident Ms Utlwanang Seakgo thanked Dr Madigele for the visit adding the question mark which had been hanging over the constituency fund has now been dealt with. ENDS