29 Jan 2020

Residents of New Disana in Maun have been advised to form a committee to spearhead their relocation.

Residents were, in 2007, requested to move from Botshabelo to Disana to pave way for Maun airport expansion and ever since, they had been complaining about delayed compensation.

Member of Parliament for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile, said in a kgotla meeting on Tuesday that a new committee would be the voice of the affected group.

In addition, he said the committee would collect all relevant information to help him when debating the issue in Parliament.

Mr Kekgonegile told the concerned residents that during the last session of Parliament, he asked the Minister of Transport and Communications to state the number of people entitled to compensation, the number that received compensation and if the pending compensation would be paid.

He said he was informed that the number of people affected by relocation was 1 511 and that the number of households was not known but there were 1 430 plots, some of which housed multiple households.

In addition, he said he was informed that according to the audit report, 1 039 people were entitled to compensation and 1 009 had already received it.

Mr Kekgonegile said there was a mismatch in numbers and he expressed hope that the committee would help with correct information.

He assured residents of New Disana that he would do everything possible to ensure the issue was resolved.

On other issues, the MP informed residents that he was aware of challenges embattling the constituency and assured them that he would do his best to find solutions.
He concurred that the constituency was marred with challenges and promised them changes during his tenure.

He appreciated that the water issue would be addressed since government had injected over P1.8 billion towards a project aimed at improving reliable water supply and sanitation in Maun.

Four companies, he said, had been engaged on the project that was expected to be complete by 2020.

Mr Kekgonegile said he was aware of the situation at Letsholathebe hospital, adding that even though upgraded to a referral facility, it was faced with a number of challenges including shortage of doctors and inadequate drug supply.

The facility, he said, needed 40 doctors but currently 15, something which he said forced residents to travel long distances to seek medical attention from other districts.

The MP also decried shortage of drugs and transport in other health facilities such as clinics and informed residents that he would engage the relevant minister to see how best they could address the challenges as they put human life under threat.

Residents also learnt that plans were underway for construction of a shopping mall and a senior school in Disana.

Earlier on, residents complained about poor water supply in the village, bad state of internal roads, poor health facilities and delay in allocation of residential plots, among other things.

Area councillor, Mr Rizerua Kazenambo stated that the number of people who had been relocated was over 1 800 and decried delay to compensate some of them.

Mr Kazenambo wished the government could finalise the issue since it dragged for years. ENDS