15 Aug 2019

The Sankoyo community has urged government to tar the road that passes through their village as it was in a bad state.

The dusty road, they said, was a health hazard to people’s lives and that it also brought sorrow to families as it had contributed to many lost lives.

Residents aired their views during a kgotla meeting addressed by Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Kostantinos Markus, who is also MP for Maun East.

They called on government to intervene and repair the road as many people had perished.

The road has a lot of traffic as it is used by tourists on transit to the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park.  It is also used by big trucks transporting material and goods to different safari camps in the delta.

Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Kobamelo Samalumba said the gravel road was in a bad state and requested government to act accordingly.

In addition, he said the road was a threat to expectant mothers as many had early deliveries because the road was bumpy.

He said the bad road had destroyed government, tourists and individuals’ vehicles.

Mr Samalumba appreciated that financial constraints were once identified as a major challenge to tar the road, and requested government to at least tar the distance from Shorobe to Mawana gate.

Furthermore, he thanked government for addressing some of their concerns such as connection of electricity in the village and construction of a kgotla shelter. He also hailed the Ipelegeng programme, saying it had transformed their lives.

Kgosi Gokgathang Moalosi concurred that the road was busy and needed to be repaired to enable tourists visiting Chobe and Moremi game reserves to utilise it.

He added that the road was of economic benefit as it contributed to the tourism sector, which was the backbone of the country’s economy.

In response, MP Markus said he was aware of the bad state of the road and the danger it posed to users and the community residing along it. He said there was a plan under review and promised residents to take up the issue with the relevant authority to see if it would be possible to include it in the next development plan.

The legislator noted that the authority once indicated the need to upgrade the road as it connected Maun and Kasane, but that it did not materialise because of an inadequate budget.

“I will continue engaging them to see how best to assist because the road is beneficial to you and the tourism sector which contributes significantly to the country’s economy,” he said. Mr Markus said he also learnt that some tourists were complaining about it. ENDS