27 Jan 2020

Member of Parliament for Ngami constituency, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama, says government should have incorporated Xorotsha inhabitants in the main society instead of establishing a new settlement.

Mr Hikuama made the remarks during a meeting with the village committees, public servants and leadership. 

He said in one of the kgotla meetings in Kareng, some residents wanted an update on the progress of the new settlement noting that the new settlement would compete for developments with existing villages.

The new settlement situated in the western side of Kareng and 30km away from Qabo settlement in the Ghanzi District.

Xorotsha settlement was conceived as a Presidential decision to accommodate about 300 people from ranches surrounding Kareng and Ghanzi so that they access basic services.

He said the residents had indicated their wish for the settlement to have all the basic infrastructure such as hospitals and fully-fledged schools, roads and other necessities.

Mr Hikuama said establishment of the settlement was unnecessary arguing the existing ones such as Somelo were already behind in terms of developments. 

He emphasised that the inhabitants could have been incorporated in Kareng so that they have access to existing services and programmes.

Furthermore, he said government could have equipped a borehole at Xorotsha for the inhabitants to rear livestock or construct a ranch.

Establishing new settlement, he said, would exacerbate the level of the poverty in the district.

Meanwhile, progress at the said settlement was at an advanced stage and relevant authorities were working around the clock to pave way for relocation. 

The council had already de-bushed the area, constructed roads, managed to drill a borehole and tested the water which was certified to be clean and portable.

About 18 houses fenced with toilets had been completed and connected water. 

In a recent interview North West District commissioner, Mr Keolopile Leipego, stated that relocation exercise to the newly established Xorotsha settlement was to commence after the 2019 general elections.

He explained that the settlement would specifically target people who were currently squatting in the area of Xorotsha around boreholes/cattle posts of Splanplek, Romane, Mathomahibidu, Xoga, Kawekeno and Masogwana. Ends