02 May 2019

 Member of Parliament for Tati West, Mr Biggie Butale says government had acquired a P10-billion loan from the government of China for the upgrading of Francistown/Nata road.

Addressing a series of kgotla meetings in his constituency recently, Mr Butale, who is also the Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, said the upgrading of the road would also cover the Hubona-Gulubane access road.

The MP however pleaded with residents of Mambo, Masingwaneng and Gulubane villages to be patient regarding the upgrading of their road to bitumen standard.   

He said the road from Gulubane to Sechele was not included in the National Development Plan (NDP) 11, but emphasised that government was aware of the importance of this road.

All developments were incorporated and outlined in the NDPs therefore government was guided by this plan when rolling out projects, he explained as a matter of fact.

Mr Butale stated that government had recently awarded North East District the Tshesebe -Masunga road project, which was still to be constructed.

The Tati West legislature also stated that with the Ntimbale Dam project assessment starting soon in these villages, it was an opportunity for residents to indicate the importance of upgrading their road network.

He highlighted that residents should propose that the construction of the road leading to the dam be incorporated in the Ntimbale Dam upgrade to ensure that there was proper road network to the dam, which was earmarked to be transformed into a tourist site.

The MP advised residents of these villages to desist from their perception that government had neglected them as the opposite was the truth.

Residents of the three villages had complained to their MP that government was not responding to their call of so many years regarding the upgrading of their roads, particularly Gulubane-Sechele road.The residents said they had in the past requested that the Minister of Transport of Communications come and address them regarding their roads, but to no avail.

Therefore they indicated that they would resort to travelling to Gaborone to consult the minister and lodge their case to prove the significance of the matter. 

Residents also stated that for over 30 years they had indicated to government that the roads were restricting and limiting growth in their villages.

The residents highlighted that their children opted to acquire plots in villages and towns that were developed rather than developing their own villages.

Moreover, they said the state of their roads worsened during the rainy season as the roads got seriously decrepit, therefore disturbing the movement of children who attended Pelaelo Community Junior Secondary School in Makaleng.

They indicated that Mambo, Masingwaneng, Gulubane and Sechele accessed most of their services in Makaleng via the gravel road, which they said was in a bad condition. ENDS