28 Aug 2018

Maun East Member of Parliament, Mr Konstantinos Markus has assured residents of Phuduhudu in the Ngamiland district that P1.5 million from the constituency development fund would be channeled towards the improvement of internal roads in their village next year.

He made the remarks when responding to some comments raised during a kgotla meeting. Some residents had complained of bad state of internal roads.

He urged residents to be patient adding that the funding would be used to pave roads in the village.

He clarified that the constituency funding was meant to implement development projects that were lacking in villages or which were not planned for adding that it was wise for residents to prioritise their needs.

Earlier, residents decried bad state of the internal roads and the delay by relevant authorities to construct a classroom at the primary school.

The Village Development Committee chairperson, Ms Boemo Lehuma complained that as a result, pupils were taught under the tree.

She also decried lack of accommodation for public officers noting that some were accommodated at Wildlife camp but stated that it was more challenging to nurses when one had to go for work at night because of the distance.

In addition, she said her committee did not have enough houses to assist with accommodation noting that there were no ways to generate income.

Phuduhudu was situated in the park and initially residents made a living through the village trust which made profits through hunting.

She said residents depended more on Ipelegeng programme and wished the hunting ban could be lifted so that the trust could fully operate and create employment for locals.

Ms Lehuma also revealed that some villagers made ends meet through ploughing but had stopped because of wildlife that frustrates their efforts.

Responding to some of the comments, Mr Markus informed residents that the construction of the classroom would commence next month as the funding was available.

He appreciated the project delayed but explained that the delay was caused by failure to submit all the required paper work.

He said it was the government’s intention to engage locals in implementation of some of the development projects.

The project, he said, would kick start on September 10.

Mr Markus has also assured all village choirs that he would assist them to record th

eir work and produce CDs for sale. ENDS