24 Sep 2019

 President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has promised residents of Salajwe that the Letlhakeng – Kaudwane road which passes through their village would be given priority during the Nation Development Plan 11 (NDP 11) midterm review.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting in Salajwe on September 24, President Masisi said the review was an opportunity to examine planned development projects.

He said the road would be upgraded to bitumen standard as the constant grading had proved to be insufficient and was too costly for government.

Dr Masisi said the road led to Khutse Game Reserve, a major tourist destination noting that since tourists preferred gravel over bitumen, two roads would be provided.

The road is expected to improve trade in the village as speedy movement of goods and services will also help in the eradication of poverty. 

The current status of the road has made it almost impossible for farmers to market their products.

Dr Masisi said the road project followed a visit by Salajwe’s Kgosi Moala Gaerupe and local headmen to his office in 2016 requesting that it be tarred him to as government and private vehicles were damaged due to  poor condition of the road. 

Meanwhile, the president has urged Salajwe residents to participate in the upcoming general elections and elect representatives of their choice.

He called upon them to accept the election results whatever the outcome.

President Dr Masisi said his government did not have an intention or plan to scrape the Old Age Pension Scheme and Ipelegeng Programme, saying as for the latter, they increased the number of beneficiaries by 5000 due to the drought.

Earlier, in his welcome remarks, Kgosi Gaerupe decried the poor status of the road saying even public officials declined to work in the village due to its poor condition.

He said the vehicle allocated to the tribal administration and an ambulance were all awaiting maintenance hence negatively impacting service delivery as Kaudwane and Letlhakeng were each 60 kilometers away from Jwaneng.

The Village Development Committee (VDC) chairman Mr Gosalamang Dibeela appraised the president on a number of projects they had undertaken, especially through the Constituency Development Fund.

Completed projects include staff houses with the assistance of the Botswana Housing Corporation. Ends