06 May 2019

Member of Parliament for Serowe North Mr Kgotla Autlwetse has informed his electorate at Khumanego and Sajwe lands that drilling and equipping of their boreholes has been delayed by political reasons.

Addressing farmers at Khumanego and Sajwe lands, Mr Autlwetse informed his electorate that preparations for drilling and equipping boreholes at Taukome, Patwe, Botepete, Khumanego and Sajwe have been offset by his political opponents who amongst other things, removed beacons that marked spots to drill boreholes.

The Serowe North legislator said that upon realising that he was helping farmers to get potable water at the lands, his political opponents thwarted his efforts by inserting metal rods into some boreholes which were assessed and tested.

The boreholes in question had tested positive to provision of adequate water, Mr Autlwetse said.

However, Mr Autlwetse told his electorate that the person who blocked the boreholes and moved beacons for new boreholes had since confessed to the acts.

Mr Autlwetse who is also the assistant minister of Local Government and Rural Development said his political detractors saw the drilling and equipping of boreholes projects as a political outmaneuver and therefore were hell-bent on frustrating his efforts of ensuring farmers get water at their lands.

However, Mr Autlwetse promised his electorate that he would ensure that they get their boreholes.

Whilst they engage experts to survey water, the assistant minister appealed to his constituents to allow for the equipping of Patwe borehole. He also requested farmers at Sajwe to wait for next financial year to get their borehole.

This is because funds were spent paying a company that drilled boreholes where there was insufficient water.

The drilling and equipping of boreholes is carried under the P10 million constituency development fund. While the villages were getting roads and other projects suitable for their localities, lands  were to be provided with infrastructure that suited them.

Mr Autlwetse said drilling and equipping boreholes at the lands was in line with government’s efforts to help ignite farmers into producing food.

He said for Botswana to achieve food security, infrastructure at production areas should be improved so that farmers’ efforts were made easier.

After drilling boreholes, Mr Autlwetse said the next project at the lands would be spot improvements on the roads that lead to production areas. ENDS