30 May 2018

A project memorandum amounting to P49 million has been approved for the implementation of the third phase of Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) projects in the Kweneng District.

“As previously reported, a total of 18 primary schools will receive additional facilities and these additional facilities comprise of 36 classrooms, 54 toilets and four teachers houses,” Kweneng District Council chairperson Mr Jeffery Sibisibi said on May 28.

Officially opening the district’s full council meeting, Mr Sibisibi said the tendering process for the projects was at an advanced stage with construction anticipated to commence beginning of July.

He said the funding included acquisition of four project vehicles and clerk of work services to facilitate project monitoring.

Council heard that construction of eight classrooms at Moamogwe Primary School was progressing well with the contractor doing finishing touches.

“The construction of 16 toilets at Metsimotlhabe Primary School has been completed while construction of four classrooms at the same school is at 75 per cent with roofing and painting being carried out,” he said.

Mr Sibisibi said 10 junior secondary schools and 31 primary schools would be maintained while secondary schools not covered by the cyclic maintenance had been allocated P500 000 to carry out minor maintenance work at school level.

He informed the councillors that the district had employed 123 preschool teachers on a permanent basis in the 79 primary schools with reception classes adding that recruitment for 47 positions of teacher aides in reception classes was ongoing.

In view of the basic education ministry’s position that laying a good foundation was critical to improving education standards, Mr Sibisibi appealed to councillors to encourage parents to send children to schools at the age of four and half.

On welfare issues, he encouraged the community to consult social welfare officers whenever they had grievances or were challenged at personal or family level noting that the office was often underutilised.

He said the office had registered 311 clients who came to seek intervention in the form of counselling services for various family challenges.

“We recorded a closure of 16 cases for the month ending April 2018 with a registration of 15 new cases. A majority of these cases are crimes committed against children such as defilement, child abuse and child neglect and those committed by children are continually rising,” he said.

He noted with concern that a total of 91 child-related cases were reported in the district with Lekgwapheng Ward in Molepolole recording the highest number at 28.

“This could mean that the people who are supposed to be taking care of children are either absent or their attention is elsewhere,” he said.

Mr Sibisibi also updated the council on an exercise to declare the entire district a planning area in line with Botswana Land Policy of 2013, stating that the process started with the sub-district of Mogoditshane/ Thamaga by carrying out extensive consultations with the affected communities.

“The exercise culminated in a draft report which has now been delivered to the Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services for final consideration as per Section 15 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 2013,” he said.

The council chairperson said a fire engine had been availed for sharing by Kweneng, South East and Kgatleng districts.

“The vehicles were received as a donation from the Australian government and will assist in reducing the time taken to combat wildland fires. We also have a team that will work with communities during fire outbreaks,” he said.

Regarding the harvesting of grapple plant (Sengaparile/Devils Claw), Mr Sibisibi said so far two potential buyers had shown interest in purchasing the plant at P20/kg and P25/kg respectively.

He said as a result of late and insufficient rainfall, 36 515 08 hectares was planted by 9 269 farmers compared to 62 841 61 hectares planted by 17 206 farmers last season. ENDS