20 Mar 2018

The recent heavy rains in North East District  have destroyed 36 households.

North East District Council chairperson, Ms Florah Mpetsane told the council meeting on Monday that Gulubane was the hardest hit village with 13 households affected followed by Mambo with nine.

Ms Mpetsane said that a total of 14 tents had been issued to assist those affected, adding that the district disaster management team continue to carry out assessments.

The chairperson thanked the disaster management team for their hard work and commitment in ensuring everyone was safe.

She urged people to guard against malaria, which might be triggered by the heavy rains that resulted in heavy vegetation in the district.

Further, Ms Mpetsane encouraged the public to  take all precautionary measures that included cutting down grass to minimise mosquito reproduction.

The chairperson indicated that the district received rains later that usual, which resulted in farmers ploughing as late as March with an estimated 5 000 hectares ploughed, which is low compared to previous years.

On other issues, Ms Mpetsane said that the human/wildlife conflict still existed in the district with elephants being major cause of damage to farmers properties.

She said mitigation measures were implemented through the use of chilli pepper, which would be used at Matsiloje, Ditladi and Patayamatebele.

In addition, Ms Mpetsane said that a team of nine animal control officers were deployed from February 2018 at Matsiloje to conduct proactive animal control methods.

Ms Mpetsane said compensation to farmers who suffered damage caused by wild animal was ongoing with a total of P109 640 paid to farmers for 50 cases.

The chairperson also indicated that North East region got position one nationally in the Primary School Leaving Examinations with an average of 81.5 per cent, adding that the district had maintained position one since 2012.

She said the good results deserved to be commended in recognition of teachers and students good job.

In the Junior Certificate Examinations, she said North East got position two nationally with 48 per cent compared to 44.8 per cent in 2016.

Ms Mpetsane highlighted that in the BGSCE results Masunga Senior Secondary School scored 33 per cent finishing in position four nationally, further noting that Materspei College and Francistown Senior Secondary School performed well on national comparison all the three being among the top 10 out of 34 in the country. Ends