18 Oct 2018

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse led the ministry’s senior officers and the political leadership in a community service day where they gave a helping hand in two projects.

The officials included council secretaries and city clerks while the political leadership were mayors and council chairpersons of various councils in the country. Mr Autlwetse and his entourage visited a small scale poultry for broiler chickens which was created as an income generating project for the Satellite South Ward Development Committee and Ms Kgalalelo Makganthai’s homestead in Newstance in which the Mayor’s Charity Fund connected her water borne toilet to a sewage system.

Speaking before the start of the service, Satellite Ward Development Committee chairperson, Mr Moathodi Nthobalang said they started the poultry project after the committee noticed a high demand for chicken in the Satellite community and surrounding areas.

Mr Nthobalang further stated that the committee decided to farm broiler chickens to meet the need, and that the target market included schools, poverty eradication beneficiaries in the catering business and individuals from the community.

The poultry is able to house 550 chickens at full capacity. In an effort to reduce wastage, the poultry uses the chicken manure as fertilizer in the vegetable garden.

Mr Nthobalang further explained that in support of the project, the community of Satellite made donations in building materials, specifically bricks and gum poles, while the Ipelegeng office donated corrugated iron sheets.

He explained that the committee was able to liaise with the Animal Production Office through the Selepa Community Development Office to learn more about poultry. Mr Nthobalang said the committee developed a sketch plan with assistance of the Department of Architecture and Buildings, and further took part in the structural set-up and the purchase of chicken wire mash and other materials needed for the project.

Speaking at the same event, the mayor of Francistown, Ms Sylvia Muzila said the water borne toilet connection to the sewerage system was one of 30 toilet projects undertaken by the Mayor’s Charity Fund of the City of Francistown.

She explained that in 2014, the fund embarked on a fundraising dinner in which it raised P200 000, and that it was agreed that the money would be used to assist the less privileged members of Francistown to turn their pit latrines into water borne toilets.

In her welcome remarks, Donga Customary Court president, Kgosi Tshegofatso Setumo explained that community service was important because it brought the spirit of compassion within communities.

She appealed that community service days should be extended to other wards in the city in order to benefit other Batswana, and that the day was also meant to speed up the completion of projects.

The community service day preceded a two-day senior management meeting at Thapama Lodge to reflect on performance and administration issues notwithstanding the developments in the ministry. ENDS