17 Jan 2018

A resident of Satau, Mr Frank Limbo, has commended President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama for serving Batswana ‘diligently’ during his tenure as President.

Speaking at a kgotla meeting addressed by Chobe MP, Mr Machana Shamukuni on Tuesday, Mr Limbo said President Khama served Batswana equally across the country.

He noted that during this time in which the President leaves office, he should be remembered for the positives noting that under his leadership, Basubiya and Bayei had representatives at Ntlo ya Dikgosi.

Mr Limbo called on President Khama’s predecessor to emulate him and put more emphasis on addressing issues that could help unite Batswana.

On other issues, Mr Limbo who was commenting on Kgosi Bernard Museke’s concern that people migrated from the village to Kazungula and Kasane, implored the government to consider balancing the economic factors of all the villages to avoid migration.

Another resident, Mr Thomas Sinvula decried that some people sold their ploughing fields and yet complained of lack of grazing land. Mr Sinvula called on the Chobe Land Board to consult with the communities before implementing some of the applications for change of land use. He noted that such changes affected the communities negatively.

He observed that the land management plan had been overtaken by events as in most cases it had resulted in conflicts among the communities.

Mr Leonard Jwanga lamented that due to lack of employment opportunities in Satau, the youth ended up resorting to Ipelegeng and in the process taking up opportunities that could rather be filled by the elderly.

He called for an agricultural demonstrator to be based in Satau, saying the one in Parakarungu was overstretched as his services were needed in a vast area.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Kgosi Museke complained that some residents had resorted to burying their dead outside cemeteries.

He decried that due to lack of accommodation, the kgotla only operated with special constables.

Kgosi Museke observed that Tribal Administration was allocated a small budget for water yet all other departments conducted their activities at the kgotla.

He explained that the expectation that departments that conducted their activities should share the water costs with the kgotla was not practical.

For his part, the VDC chairperson, Mr Solomon Mungomba complained of shortage of water in the village, citing that in some instances they spent three to four days without water and the Water Utilities Corporation never notified the residents about the anticipated water shortages.

Mr Mungomba complained about lack of lights in the village and called for the erection of solar power street lights. He complained of the delay by the Chobe Land Board to allocate plots at Masanzwe.

Mr Mungomba reiterated the sentiments by Kgosi Museke regarding lack of police officers at the kgotla adding that as a result the residents travel about ten kilometres to Parakarungu to certify their documents.

For his part, Mr Shamukuni concurred that Kachikau-Parakarungu road is not in a good condition and he would continue to advocate for it to be tarred. The challenge is that the economy does not allow, he said.

Mr Shamukuni promised the residents that Department of Roads and Chobe District Council would continue to grade the road and during the 2018/19 financial year the grading would be outsourced.

He decried that public officer’s housing was a challenge in the entire constituency and implored the residents to build houses and lease them to government.

In response, Chobe Land Board chairperson, Mr Johane Chenjekwa said the board was concerned that people do not bury their dead at gazetted cemeteries and appealed to the community to assist.

He said the land board was in the process of making an integrated land use plan and called for the community’s cooperation.

Chobe district council chairperson, Councillor Paul Chabaesele explained that he met with the police station commanders and they promised to purchase BHC houses in Satau to accommodate  police officers.

Councillor Chabaesele suggested that the community should utilise the LG1109 funds for income generating projects in order to help attract people back into the village. ENDS