20 May 2018

Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Machana Shamukuni has told residents of Lesoma that P4 million from the National Road Levy would be used for the construction of the road that links their village from the Nata-Kasane road.

Addressing kgotla meetings in Lesoma and Pandamatenga recently, Mr Shamukuni said P2 million has been spent on tarring part of the road and another P2 million would be used to complete the loop.

He said the development would address complaints that public transporters did not drop passengers at appropriate places.

Mr Shamukuni, who is also Chobe MP, encouraged residents to utilise government empowerment programmes to develop themselves.

He said government would continue to improve lives, noting that the next session of Parliament would discuss policies aimed at improving the lives of people-with-disabilities.

Lesoma resident, Ms Nthusang Ernest complained that the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) delayed in attending cases of destruction by wild animals and compensating the aggrieved.

Another resident, Ms Sephiwe Dube appealed to government to consider reducing customs duty for small businesses residing in Chobe who travelled to Zambia to buy stock, while Mr Luckson Kashweka complained that the Namibian immigration entry charge for vehicles was high so much so that locals were discouraged to attend family matters such as burials in Namibia.

In Pandamatenga, Ms Mikiya Moyo decried failure by council to collect waste, a situation which had turned waste bins into breeding places for mosquitoes.

Mr Mogolo Tuelo complained that government’s priority learnt more towards commercial than small scale farmers while Mr Gothusamang Mafikizolo requested departments to give residents priority when hiring for vacancies that did not require high qualifications.

 He suggested that the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Culture and Sport Development should organise a rally for all unemployed youth in the district to share ideas on how they could develop themselves.

In her welcome remarks, Kgosi Rebecca Banika raised concern about the level of noise pollution caused by liquor traders, and that some of those licensed to hunt guinea fowls shoot without taking precautions to ensure the safety of others.

Kgosi Lesoma Lesoma complained about the increase in the elephant population. He said the animals ended up killing and injuring residents.

 In response, Mr Shamukuni said Namibia, just like any sovereign state, had its own policies and that it was not easy for Botswana to dictate to the other government not to charge Botswana registered vehicles entering the country.

Mr Shamukuni told residents that government was in the process of reviewing the hunting ban, and that he was hopeful that should the ban be lifted, it would keep the elephant population manageable. He pleaded with council to ensure that liquor traders abided to their license requirements.

Mr Shamukuni encouraged residents to work with police in the fight against crime since stakeholder collaboration was key in conquering crime.

Acting regional wildlife officer, Mr Mbututu Mbututu explained that the guinea fowl hunting permit stipulated that hunting should not be carried out in built up areas, and encouraged those licensed to ensure they adhered to the conditions of the permit.

He explained that the delay in compensation was because funds were exhausted, adding that something would be done in the new financial year.

He said funds got depleted before the end of the financial year, leading to delays in processing claims.

Mr Mbututu also encouraged residents to ensure availability of documents such as certificates of the field where destruction was done or brand certificates in the case of livestock in order to help speed up processing claims. ENDS