22 Aug 2019

Kgosi Shathani Sebina of Sebina in the Tutume Sub-district has raised a concern about the extent of damage caused to Shashe and Nyamambisi rivers by illegal sand miners.

Welcoming Member of Parliament for Shashe West, Mr Fidelis Molao at a kgotla meeting in Sebina on Wednesday, Kgosi Sebina appealed to the Department of Mines to reinforce their efforts in monitoring the illegal sand miners’ activities.

Kgosi Sebina said insults had been hurled at village leaders by the illegal sand miners, noting that some of the culprits involved in such illegal activities were the village children.

She explained that Shashe and Nyamambisi river banks had turned into big holes about six feet deep, which posed danger to people as they may end up falling into those holes during the rainy season. She further said farmers who depended on those rivers for watering their crops all year round had started experiencing low water levels due to improper mining of the river sand.

In addition, Kgosi Sebina raised a concern over people who failed to report child abuse incidents to lawful authorities, adding that people involved in such acts were well known people including relatives.

She wondered why families protected perpetrators over their children. She however appealed to government to tighten laws against parents who hide such information after children reported the matter to them.

In response, Mr Molao, who is the Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security said recently, he received reports from the police that some people involved in illegal sand mining activities were arrested and charged.

He said if the situation continued to prevail, he would take it up with the relevant authorities.

Furthermore, he said Batswana should understand the importance of preserving natural resources because if damaged it was not easy to recover them.

He also cited the Tati and Ntshe rivers in Francistown, which had now turned into bushes.

Regarding abuse of children, he asked parents to be role models and child protectors instead of being oppressors.

Government values and protects children, hence the passing of the law in Parliament last year that protects children aged 18 years and below.

The area MP also informed residents that the village clinic, which was supposed to be upgraded this financial year, was still on schedule, adding that the Ministry of Health and Wellness was still finalising preparations for the project. ENDS