20 Nov 2018

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has challenged residents of Masunga to produce a good yield next harvest season to prove that government’s cluster fencing initiative was a worthy development.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Masunga on November 20, the president said it was one of the luckiest villages in North East District to have been chosen for the piloting of the cluster fencing project.

The president pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security assisted the Masunga community to clear the land and now it was upon all farmers to utilise it to the optimum.

President Masisi encouraged farmers to work hard and plough the serviced land to ensure that government resources did not go to waste.

He said Masunga residents were privileged because their ploughing land was already serviced hence the need to produce good yields.

President Masisi said government was aware of the fact that Botswana was hit by drought which has resulted in livestock perishing.

“The country is currently experiencing a heat wave as indicated by the Department of Meteorology,” he said calling on the nation to stay hydrated and safe from the harsh weather conditions.

Dr Masisi said government had assessed possible mitigating measures which would soon be announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

President Masisi also called on Batswana to conserve water during the dry spell.

The president advised the district to install tower and streets lights that would utilise the abundant and free solar energy, which he said would make Botswana competitive.

President Masisi said Botswana should attract investors and human resource, especially those with scarce skills.

He thanked Batswana for registering for elections and further urged them to exercise their right to vote next year.

Responding to complaints that Tati Land Board had not allocated plots for over five years, the president said the issue was very sensitive but promised to take it up with the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services permanent secretary.

Commenting on the issue, the board’s deputy chairperson Mr Nixon Mogapi explained that only planned and surveyed land was allocated saying the challenge was that the North East District Council was currently functioning with only one planner.

He said the land board also depended on other organisations such as Water Utilities Corporaton for servicing of land.

Mr Mogapi said the district  had  limited land due to the fact that  a large percentage of land in the area was privately owned.

He however said government had purchased 15 private farms to augment the available land.

Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness and also Tati West MP Biggie Butale thanked President Masisi for choosing to visit Masunga.

He said Tati West residents were hard working and result oriented “which is why the district always tops the country in schools’ academic performance”.

He thanked government for taking a swift decision to re-award the Tshesebe-Masunga road tender following the termination of the former contract.

In his remarks, Kgosi Maruje III expressed gratitude for the cluster fencing project which he said would benefit many residents.

Government, he pointed out,  invested P1 million in the 800 hectares project expected to turn Masunga into an agro tourism hub.

He however said shortage of land in the district was proving to be an impediment to investors setting up businesses in Masunga. ENDS