08 Aug 2019

Consultations on the Kasane/Kazungula Redevelopment Plan and the Shoreline Strategy with  entrepreneurs doing business along the Chobe River are running smoothly.

Chobe District Council chairperson, Councillor Paul Chabaesele Satau residents during a kgotla meeting this week that the consultations entailed convincing the entrepreneurs to open up the riverfront by moving 30 metres.

That meant their property would be moved the stated distance as a way of giving the public access to the river from Chobe Safari Lodge up to  Kazungula Bridge.

He said the fact that  consultations were progressing without a hitch  was a positive step since in 2014 the concerned entrepreneurs petitioned the Office of the President regarding the 30-metre relocation.

On other issues, Mr Chabaesele informed residents that the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development had availed funds for the construction of an 800 capacity mini stadium near Chobe Junior Secondary School.

The project, which would have netball and volleyball pitches, office and a track with artificial turf among others, was at design stage, he said.

Councillor Chabaesele said a plot had been allocated for a bigger stadium at Kazungula.

Once the bigger stadium had been constructed,  the smaller one would be reserved for  use by local schools.

On another project, he said the Chinese government had pledged funds for the construction of a primary school at Kazungula boasting 14 classrooms, 16 staff houses, an administration block and a kitchen.

He said ablution blocks for both girls and boys hostels would be built at Kachikau’s  Liswaani Secondary School at a cost of P477 000.
Councillor Chabaesele said the installation of a 150 cubic metre water tank at Satau had been delayed by the Department of Environmental Affairs requirements but exemption had been since granted.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Bernard Museke decried the condition of the Kachikau/Parakarungu Road.

He said another project  causing concern was the gravelling of internal roads which seemed to have been abandoned by the contractor.

VDC chairperson Mr Austin Samunzala requested council to assist with the transportation of pupils residing at Masanzu, some  three kilometres away from school.

He said since the breakdown of the vehicle that had been ferrying them, the pupils had been walking to and from school thereby being exposed to dangerous wild animals in the area.

He pleaded with the council to help repair the vehicle and in paying the driver’s salary.

The Ministry of Basic Education regional director, Ms Lillian Matshameko commended residents for cooperating with the local primary school in improving academic performance.

Ms Matshameko said in the first and second terms, the school exceeded the 80 per cent target.

She encouraged the residents to continue the cooperation to ensure the school attains a 100 per cent pass rate in the final examinations.

Responding to some of the concerns, Mr Chabaesele said over P13 million had been budgeted for dry grading of the Kachikau/Parakarungu Road twice a month while a permanent solution was till being sought.

He said council officials and other stakeholders would be engaged to find ways of assisting Masanzu school children. ENDS