27 Jun 2019

Minister of Transport and Communications, Ms Dorcas Makgato, says her ministry is considering the idea of acquiring coaches for Botswana Railyways  to enable farmers to transport cattle to Lobatse abattoir.

This, she said, when responding to Kgosi Alphonse Nsala of Tutume in a kgotla meeting on June 25.

Minister Makgato said the proposal would be considered during the planning and designing of the railway line.

Kgosi Nsala had proposed to the minister that the ministry should consider re-introducing cattle wagons at Botswana Railways to assist them in transporting cattle to the abattoir.

Kgosi said following closure of Francistown abattoir, they were incurring huge costs when taking their cattle to Lobatse.

Trucks reportedly charged farmers P500 per beast.

He said using rail was affordable compared to road transportation.

Furthermore, Kgosi Nsala suggested that since government was planning to construct another railway line from Mosetse, they should also consider having stations at certain areas for farmers who would want to transport their cattle to the abattoir.

According to Kgosi Nsala, there were many cattle posts along Mosetse area, hence the need to have stations to ease costs on farmers.

On other issues, Ms Makgato said technology across the world was moving at a fast pace and many of the countries were far much ahead of Botswana.

Therfore, she noted that her ministry was working around the clock to improve communication technology to improve service delivery.

She explained that her ministry was the foundation of information technology, hence the need to improve such services so that connection among service providers could become easy.

In addition, she stated that with improved connection locally, it would enable the country to link easily with the international markets.

The minister further said just recently, her ministry finalised an agreement with their counterparts in Namibia for the dry port, which aimed at easing movement of Botswana goods.

She added that they had also made other arrangements with Mozambique, for the port to be accessed through Zimbabwe.

She said having all those entry points and access to the sea would enable the country to have different point other than South African ports for movement of goods and services.

Minister Makgato also appealed to parents to take care of their children when using the latest technology.

She said there were a number of things happening on the internet and children geot carried away easily resulting in them endangering themselves.

She, however, said government together with other countries was countering such cyber-attacks through strict laws aimed at protecting people across the world.

She added that her ministry was coming up with strategies to improve cyber security in the country and she would be tabling their strategies at the next cabinet meeting.

Regarding maintenance of roads in Tutume Sub-district, director of roads department Mr Modise Segokgo said Tutume-Maitengwe road tender had been awarded and by the first week of next month the contractor would be on site to begin work.

He further said access roads of Dagwi and Nkange/Changate would be done during the project, adding that the Tutume-Goshwe/Matobo road would be done with interlocking bricks. He however revealed that the tender was at an advance stage for awarding. ENDS