17 May 2018

Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane has informed residents of Khumaga that government intended to put more emphasis on rural development.

Mr Tsogwane said this on Wednesday during a kgotla meeting in Khumaga, where he urged residents to identify and establish sustainable strategies through which people’s livelihoods could be upgraded and enhanced through rural development.

He noted that all projects aimed at developing people’s lives would be undertaken through the Rural Development Council, which he led.

Mr Tsogwane cited one such council project, which commenced at Lobu Trust, adding that the project had been abandoned, but had since been revitalised.

He cited that the Orapa quarantine camp could also be revived to provide artificial insemination training for community members.

The intention, he said, was to revive Community Based Natural Resource Management Projects, which he said villages such as Moremaoto and Khumaga could immensely benefit from.

The VP commended Khumaga residents for identifying campsites development as an area they could engage in to uplift their livelihoods, promising to liaise with relevant ministries to assist in kick-starting the projects.

He also advised village development committees to establish areas where they could stockpile sand to supply companies carrying out projects in their villages, encouraging them to apply for licences as well as surface rights for sand mining.

Government, Mr Tsogwane said, would also develop strategies to  be applied to create employment opportunities for the youth.

He informed the residents that there were plans to upgrade Rakops Junior Secondary School to a unified secondary school, but the project was deferred due to lack of funds.

In addition, Mr Tsogwane said government had proposed a bill to regulate social media use, saying those misusing it would be fined.

He stated that there was a special dispensation to re-assess those who had land at Gwaraga, but noted those should have evidence or witnesses to prove they ploughed in the area.

Meanwhile, Mr Tsogwane thanked President Mokgweetsi Masisi for identifying him as a person with good qualities and capabilities to lead, which he said, had also uplifted the image of Boteti.

Khumaga Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Kgomotso Dihawa requested government to intervene with regard to human/wildlife conflict rife in the village.

Mr Dihawa also complained that the Department of Wildlife and National Parks took long to attend to cases on damages by wild animals, saying exhibits got destroyed in the process.
 

He requested for a Problem Animal Control (PAC) office in Khumaga, and requested an explanation as to what could have delayed completion of the Makgadikgadi/Nxai Pan fence.

He also complained about shortage of public officers in the village, saying there was neither an agricultural demonstrator, veterinary officer nor a social welfare officer.

Mr Dihawa had also requested for a senior school in Khumaga.

A resident, Ms Kefelelwang Goratwang complained that they had not been compensated for their land at Gwaraga due to reasons that their land was not developed.

In response, Rakops Sub-land board chairperson, Mr Polokoeng Leswadula said people who had land at Gwaraga were not compensated because the Department of Wildlife and National Parks took a decision to only compensate those who had developed the land.
Department of Wildlife and National Parks official, Mr John Kepaletswe said there was a PAC office in Khumaga, but it did not have personnel, while senior assistant council secretary, Mr Onthatile Molelu said the social welfare officer transferred to Khumaga was still on maternity leave. Ends