30 Jul 2018

Chobe legislator Mr Machana Shamukuni has implored Kavimba residents to take advantage of the new government schools feeding programme by coming up with poultry and horticultural projects. 

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Kavimba recently, Mr Shamukuni who is also the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, said with the abundance of water in the area, residents could start vegetable gardens and sell to the local school and those in neighbouring villages. 

Still on projects, Mr Shamukuni lamented that some beneficiaries of government schemes such as the Poverty Eradication Programme had abandoned them. 

He said as the assistant minister in the ministry responsible for the programme, he was always impressed by successful projects elsewhere in the country which he wished his constituents could emulate. 

One such project, he said,  was that of toilet paper making in Moshupa by a syndicate of 28 women. 

Mr Shamukuni discouraged the youth from regarding Ipelegeng as a permanent job but to instead utilise government programmes such as the Youth Development Fund. 

He further encouraged Kavimba residents to develop their village and desist from relocating to other areas. 

Mr Shamukuni said  government could only avail services such as schools, hospitals and roads in places with high population warning that their village would remain undeveloped if they left.

On other issues, the MP told residents that their primary school would undergo routine maintenance in the near future. 

Responding to complaints about destruction caused by wild animals, he reminded residents that it was legal to kill animals found destroying property. 

Mr Shamukuni said animals such as elephants had grown in number since the imposition of the hunting ban which was now earmarked for review following nationwide consultation. 

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Kgosi Moffat Sinvula complained that the village was developing at a snail’s pace and that human/wildlife conflict continued to be the order of the day. 

VDC chairperson Mr Allen Savvas called on dikgosi and the community at large to support the newly appointed committee. 

Mr Savvas complained that some public officers were not willing to clear their VDC rental arrears and pleaded for the district commissioner’s intervention. 

Mr Savvas complained about delay in compensation for the destruction caused by wild animals saying in some cases it had taken up to three years. 

“Delay in compensation is a drawback to farmers because cattle and goat prices increase every year,” he said. 

Mr Savvas also called for the review of the P120 compensation for a goat saying it was too little. 

He noted that the same government that compensated such a low amount bought a goat at a much higher price for Poverty Eradication Programme beneficiaries. 

He complained about the P135 000 water bill at the village cemetery and lack of assistance for people living with disabilities(PLWD). 

In response, Mr Shamukuni promised to take up the issue of the high water bill with Water Utilities Corporation.

He explained that the Department of Wildlife and National Parks required P9 million for countrywide compensation this financial year and had been advised to address the backlog. 

He promised to request the district commissioner’s office  to ensure people living with disabilities got the necessary assistance. 

Mr Shamukuni disclosed that a policy on PLWD would be tabled for discussion by the December Parliament. ENDS