21 Jun 2020

Minister of Transport and Communications has acknowledged the need to improve the road connecting Mabesekwa and Tonota.

Mr Thulagano Segokgo, who recently was on a tour to appreciate the roads in the area, said coal deposits along the Mabesekwa road made the significance of rehabilitating the road to ease transporting coal to its destination. The road is prone to destruction from rain water.

The MP for Tonota, Mr Pono Moatlhodi stated that the road from Tonota to Mabesekwa, a village with 6 000 inhabitants, was important to residents who deserved to enjoy developments like everyone else.

Mr Moatlhodi said five contractors who were previously engaged to service and work on the road left midway.

He said the road needed to be cleared and re-graveled.

Mr Segokgo also talked about the road that connects Tonota with Mmadinare, saying upgrading it to tarred road would benefit tourism since the area housed Shashe, Dikgatlhong, Letsibogo, Ntimbale and Thune dams as well as wildlife, elephants inclusive.

He said it would also shorten the distance from Martin’s Drift Border through Selebi Phikwe from about 70 kilometres to about 55 kilometres and would link Tonota and Francistown regions with SPEDU.

He said the road would shorten the distance to transport goods that came through the Martin’s Drift Border Post and were northern bound as well as assist farmers who constantly used the road.

Director of the Department of Roads, Mr Modisa Segokgo said the original ground level of the Mabesekwa road was high and had been washed away by rains leaving some parts damaged.

He said it needed to be attended to. Ends