29 Jul 2018

Government is aware of the flooding problem of Kachikau-Parakarungu road and is planning to maintain it promptly.

Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Kitso Mokaila informed residents of Satau and Parakarungu in kgotla meetings recently that the Ministerial Tender Committee is working on the tender in order to have a contractor appointed by the end of September.

He said the six months project aimed at addressing problem areas before the next rainy season.

Minister Mokaila explained that the current road could not be tarred as ‘it is in flood prone area’ and instead his ministry was looking at having an alternative road that would be tarred, therefore the current one would continue to serve as  a temporary road.

He said a design for an alternative road was done in 2007 and the experts would revisit the design and consult the community on their findings.

On other issues, he informed residents that he intended to propose to Parliament to have his ministry become an authority so that it performs its mandate better.

He said should his ministry become an authority it would mean the introduction of toll gates and an increase in weighbridges.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Mr Garekwe Mojaphoko explained to residents that while the current road is 19km, the permanent road was going to be longer as flood prone areas would be avoided.

The road would be 35km and with two access roads of 6.5km and half a kilometre to Chituza and Masanzu respectively, making the total kilometres to 42, he said.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Kgosi Bernard Museke of Satau who decried the bad road also requested for internet at the village reading room.

Mr Matthews Zambo decried that internal roads in Satau were also a problem and making it difficult for public transport operators to transverse the village.

In Parakarungu, Mr Edward Tumedi thanked the government for considering construction and tarring of Kachikau/Parakarungu road.

He said while the tarred road would be longer, the residents should be thankful as they would be able to connect with Kasane even during rainy seasons.

In response, the Chobe district council chairperson, Mr Paul Chabaesele explained that Satau and Parakarungu would each have 3km internal roads graveled through the constituency funding and the exercise would kick off in August as a tender had already been awarded.

He assured residents that he would consult the relevant officers on what could be done about internet at the reading room and would give feedback to the community via their MP.

The area MP, who is also the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Machana Shamukuni thanked the minister for the good news as the road had been a problem for a  long time.

He noted that Mr Mokaila was the first minister of Transport and Communications to have come in person to address the residents on the road. ENDS