19 Aug 2019

Chobe MP, Mr Machana Shamukuni, has assured residents of Kachikau of government’s commitment to human development.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Kachikau recently, Mr Shamukuni said government’s dedication was demonstrated by recent amendments in some policies to make it easier for Batswana to do business.

Mr Shamukuni, who is also Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, said one of the amendments provided for multiple use of land.

The Chobe legislator encouraged residents to refrain from selling ploughing fields, addiong that  they should take advantage of the new legislation to start businesses such as camp sites and horticulture.

In her brief, a member of Kachikau Village Development Committee (VDC), Ms Galekopane Robang, said they managed to electrify their offices as well as purchase 20 mattresses and a tent for rent. 

She said the committee was working on starting a hardware buiness in the village.

She requested that since the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) had an office in the village, residents should be allowed to pay their water bills there. 

She lamented that in some cases, the residents travelled as far as Kasane, which is more than 50km away, to pay water bills.

She complained about a gravel road to the cemetery saying it was in a bad condition.

Ms Robang further said lack of street lights affected the performance of day pupils at Liswaani secondary because they could not join their boarding counterparts for evening studies.

One of the residents, Mr Sheka Sakoreng, applauded government for the land reforms. He also called for the tarring of Kachikau-Shorobe road.

Ms Olorato Maretlwaneng complained that the village library was too small, therefore not conducive for reading. She also complained of lack of internet at the kgotla.

Ms Itshokeng Mosweu complained of the delay in compensation for damage by wild animals and suggested that where the animals destroyed crops, compensation should be for the entire farm.

In response, the deputy council secretary, M Lesang Leloba, explained that it was the responsibility of the council to maintain internal roads. 

He, however, said when machinery was not available for such, the VDC could liaise with Ipelegeng coordinator to avail workers to attend to patches on the road.

On lack of street lighting, Mr Leloba said the village would get two flood lights under the constituency funding for the current financial year and once the funds are released, consultation with the community will be done to decide where they could be erected. 

A WUC superintendent, Mr Mogomotsi Mothowakgosi explained that the initial plan of having an office in Kachikau was to help residents pay their water bills closer but the plan has since been suspended until the corporation’s restructuring exercise is completed.

Mr Mothowakgosi urged the residents to utilise some platforms such as online payments by dialing *186# and Botswana Post to pay their bills. He further informed them that they could get their water bills at the comfort of their homes by dialing the 0800 555 555 toll free number. 

Mr Mothowakgosi also encouraged them to update their cell numbers with the corporation in order to get their bills through Short Message Service (SMS) notifications.

A principal wildlife officer, Mr Mbututu Mbututu explained that the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) is working tirelessly to address the issue of delay compensations. He further said compensation is only done for what the wild animals destroyed such as fence, gum poles and crops and not labour for erecting such.

Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Chobe district coordinator, Ms Onthatile Modise explained that Kachikau did not have a library but a reading room. 

Ms Modise said her ministry only availed books, computers and paid an employee at the reading room. 

He further said if the community feels the reading room is small they can through the VDC make suggestions and her office together with the VDC can look for a bigger place. ENDS