13 Aug 2019

The Ledumadumane branch of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has been hailed for seeing the need to construct kgotla offices at Kgwanyape, Ledumadumane.

Speaking at the official hand over of the facilities, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Duke Masilo said this was a great achievement, adding the government alone could not undertake all developments.

The project was the brainchild of area councillor, Mr Otlaadisa Kgwatalala, who after being elected in 2014, made a promise to the electorate to construct kgotla offices.

Mr Masilo, who was speaking on behalf of Minister Frans Van der Westhuizen, said people like Councillor Kgwatalala were important as they displayed exemplary leadership.

By building the office, the councillor now has a tangible record from which his constituents can gauge him, said Mr Masilo.

He said it was extra ordinary for headmen of arbitration to have offices, adding that people would no longer travel long distances to access government services as the social welfare officer would also be housed there.

Mr Masilo said given the role played by dikgosi in nation building, it was imperative for them to work in a conducive environment.

He further said it was good to see that despite the challenges people faced, they still maintain the spirit of volunteerism.

For his part, Mr Kgwatalala said the office was constructed to the tune of P260 000 and while he used some of his funds, he was assisted by Mr Ziao Ping, the Director of Out of Africa Holdings and Electrical Distributors, who did all the construction, while Electrical Distributors supplied and installed electricity component.

The councillor said he was concerned about high incidents of crime in the area and hoped the police would use the office on a permanent basis, adding that this also helped the residents with easier access to government services. ENDS