07 Oct 2019

Residents of Gumare and surrounding areas have showered President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi with accolades for demonstrating visionary leadership and good governance.

They said during a kgotla meeting in Gumare that the President had laid a strong foundation citing revival of the national principle of consultation which they said had been eroded.

President Masisi, they said, had the nation’s interests at heart as evidenced by his aims of taking the country to greater heights.

They promised him support during his political journey noting that he deserved another chance to ensure continuity of his vision.

Residents commended the President for facilitating increased  Botswana Meat Commission prices in an effort to help farmers profit from their cattle and to encourage more Batswana to venture into the industry.

Other efforts they appreciated included the lifting of the hunting ban and implementation of some development projects through the Constituency Development Fund.

One speaker, Mr Simon Meti, expressed gratitude that during the outbreak of bontick, which killed many cattle in some areas surrounding Gumare, assistant minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Kostantinos Markus visited the affected areas while proper action was taken to reduce the impact.

Another resident, Pastor Goaba Moeti said as the date of the general election approached, his congregation was going to embark on a seven-day prayer and fasting programme for peaceful elections and for President Masisi to win.

He said President Masisi had ensured that religious-based organisations worshipped freely, an indication that he truly appreciated the role and contribution of churches in society. 

Praising the President for restoring the custom of dialogue, Kgosi Moitshepi Molelwa said the spirit of consultation Batswana were known for helped government to make sound decisions.

On other issues, minister of Basic Education, Mr Bagalatia Arone said the ministry was in the process of purchasing 21 houses from Botswana Housing Corporation in an effort to address accommodation shortage in schools.

He was responding to a comment from Village Development Committee chairperson, Ms Matshidiso Gantsi who had decried the shortage of accommodation at Okavango Junior Secondary School.

Mr Arone explained that a project to construct 21 staff houses at the said school was abandoned by the contractor. 

The ministry was in the process of identifying a new contractor to complete the project, he said.

He accused local contractors of failing government noting that the same situation was experienced at Ngambao Junior Secondary School where a contractor engaged to construct 12 houses disappeared into thin air. ENDS