29 Aug 2019

The proposed P3 million Shoshong mini rural development centre will go on as planned despite financial constraints,  

Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development Mr Dikgang Makgalemele assured residents in a kgotla meeting on August 28 that P1.5 million had been reserved for the project to commence this financial year.

He said despite the delay in establishing the facility, government was determined to increase public officers to service the community.

One resident, Mr Moneedi Bagaisamang, had expressed concern that the long proposed project was not taking off the ground and was doubtful it would materialise since there was no timeframe.

“I am aware that the project is funded through constituency community project fund, and therefore I am concerned that it was not commencing,” he said.

Some residents expressed  concern about shortage drugs at health facilities which jeopardised people’s health, especially those with chronic illnesses.

Shoshong Health Post matron Ms Baoketsi Keletso ascribed the drug shortage to lengthy bureaucratic acquisition processes but assured residents that the challenge was being addressed as a matter of urgency.

Mr Makgalemele updated constituents on bills passed by the last Parliament such as changes to the Land Policy to allow individuals to utilise 50 per cent of their ploughing fields for other projects.

He said the move would allow people to venture into  projects they were unable to undertake in the past due to lack of land.

The assistant minister encouraged residents to take advantage of proposed changes   saying part of the field could be used for tourism projects such as campsites and lodges.

Mr Makgalemele informed residents that privatization of the Botswana Meat  Commission (BMC) was on the cards with the hope of  increasing competition and identifying other markets for Botswana beef.

Individual citizens would be allowed to buy shares in the privatised BMC, explained the assistant minister.

He advised the community to take advantage of opportunities in the beef industry value chain and engage in profitable enterprises to improve their livelihoods as and contribute to economic diversification.

Potential businesses in the value chain, he said,  included feedlots and leather works among others.

Residents heard that in an effort to help cattle farmers get value for their produce, BMC had increased buying price of cattle by P3 per kilogramme.

Mr Makgalemele advised against keeping large herds of cattle for pride saying they should instead be utilised to better lives.

Another piece of legislation passed in the last sitting of Parliament, he said, was the Botswana Teaching Professionals Bill which would result in the establishment of a council responsible for registering all teachers working in the country.

The registration process would afford teachers the opportunity to market themselves globally, he said. Ends