13 Aug 2019

As the 11th Parliament comes to a close, MP for Francistown South has shared with his constituents some of the achievements that he managed to score in Parliament following their suggestions during consultations.

Addressing a kgotla meeting at Francistown’s Somerset Extension on Monday, the MP explained that he was happy that some of the motions he moved were passed.

For instance he raised a motion calling for the introduction of pre-paid electricity and water metres in urban areas. “The motion on pre-paid electricity was adopted. Concerning pre-paid water in towns, the motion was also adopted but government is still engaged in research and consultations. By December there is a possibility that you will be having pre-paid water meters,” he said.

MP Mmolotsi also mentioned that constituents had asked him to convince government to pay tuition fees for repeating students, which was adopted and implemented.

Further, he informed constituents that their request for the establishment of old age homes and rehabilitation centres for drug addicts succeeded as legislators supported his motions.

MP Mmolotsi described his tenure as successful despite the fact that his motion requesting government to pay off debts for both BCL and Tati Nickel companies was defeated.

He also applauded the good working relationship that he enjoyed with councillors in the constituency.

The MP also informed residents that the kgotla meetings were the last before Parliament was dissolved in preparation for the general election.

Consequently, the Francistown South MP warned residents not to allow political campaigns to divide them as Batswana.

He explained that the country was well known for its peace and tranquility and urged them to ensure that these values were maintained despite political differences.

Civil disagreements between political parties, he highlighted, were part of democracy and should be jealously guarded.

“Let us not use abusive language against one another. We should also shun candidates who preach the politics of hate and divisiveness because this is not good politics,” he maintained.

The MP also updated them about some of the bills that were passed in Parliament such as the Declaration of Assets Bill, whose objective is to fight corruption and the Transfer Duty Amendment Bill, which is meant to protect first time home buyers.

Ward Development Committee chairperson, Ms Gladys Siska decried the low number of people who attended kgotla meetings.

She also informed the MP that most projects in the ward were completed, noting that the kgotla shelter should have been operating by now.

However, she mentioned that water had not been connected to the toilet as funds got depleted. She decried noise from shebeens that operated for 24 hours in the ward and urged police to crack the whip.

Ms Siska also raised a concern about rising incidents of drug abuse by the youth, which she said destroyed their future.

On other issues, she decried the fact that they had not realised the Ipelegeng increments that were announced in April.

Further, she said they were concerned by the mushrooming of garages in homesteads. Kutlwano Police Station commander, Superintendent Neo Serumola acknowledged that there had been an increase in crime incidents in the ward.

However, he said police had intensified their patrols at night to prevent house break-ins. He also told them that capacity constraints and limited resources sometimes resulted in them not making it to the crime scenes on time.

He also noted that police confiscated alcohol worth thousands of pula from illegal shebeens in Somerset Extension,  but explained that some of the culprits were repeat offenders.

Supt Serumola also said that police had apprehended some drugs peddlers, noting that most of the drugs came from outside the country. ENDS