06 Jul 2020

Khawa village Kgosi Piet Manyoro has hailed President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi for fulfilling his promise of bringing a multimillion pula infrastructure development to the village which includes paving of internal roads, installation of solar street lights and construction of market stalls.

Speaking in an interview with BOPA, Kgosi Manyoro said delivering on promises made to the people was critical to the advancement of democracy and encouraged inclusivity. 

He said the new developments meant that government recognised communities in remote areas such as Khawa.

Kgosi Manyoro said President Dr Masisi announced the developments when officiating during the Khawa Dune challenge in May 2019, noting that within a year construction of the promised infrastructure was already on course.

This, he said, would improve people’s livelihoods.

Kgosi Manyoro noted that Khawa was categorised as a rural area development programme (RADP) settlement as there was little economic activity. 

However, he said, the settlement was earmarked to be a tourist attraction area owing to the infrastructural development. 

Furthermore, he appreciated that the President also promised date palms of which 150 had already been planted by the Department of Forestry and Range Resources.

He also appreciated the  installation of the solar streetlights, an important development as some of the villagers were seeing street lights for the first time.

“Tautona o dirile se a neng a se solofeditse ka jaana dipone di a bonesa ebile di neela motse seriti. Kana fa o tsena mo Khawa o tlaare o mo toropong,” he said with a smile.

Kgosi Manyoro appreciated the multiple projects which he said were done simultaneously though the implementation was disrupted by coronavirus outbreak as they had to break during the lockdown.

He said the developments placed Khawa in a position  to add more value to Botswana’s economy through tourism earnings and not just through Khawa Dune Challenge. 

He said  the developments would have a trickle down effect to improve efficiencies in other sectors of the economy.

Meanwhile, he said, to fully leverage on the new infrastructural developments it was also critical to develop the road network by tarring the gravel road that connects Khawa to the main road.

For her part, Kgalagadi District Council Public Relations officer Ms Tabona Ndoli said the new developments which would give Khawa village a facelift were under the supervision of the council through the departments of Architecture and Building Services and Civil and Mechanical Engineering Services. 

She said the projects re-commenced soon after a break which was caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The installation of solar street lights project, which is 95 per cent complete was awarded to PGP Switchboards Company at a cost of P3.4 million and the company was to install lights in a radius of 3.2 kilometres. 

Meanwhile, the tender for paving 3.2 kilometres internal roads stretch had been awarded to MedPak (Pty) Ltd at a cost of P7. 4 million and is 46 per cent complete.

Construction of the two market stalls was awarded to two local contractors from the district which are Legmale Investments (Pty) Ltd and Ado Building Construction & Engineering Services at a total cost of P518 000.

 The project, she said was 85 per cent complete.

“The community has benefited after a total of 56 employment opportunities were created for residents. Solar street lights project created 10 jobs, paving created 36 whilst construction of market stalls hired 10,” she said.

During Khawa Dune challenge last year President Dr Masisi promised the villagers the infrastructure which he stated would boost citizen economic empowerment drive. 

He had said the infrastructure would ensure that the community sustained itself beyond the popular Khawa Dune Challenge.

He encouraged the community to do their part to benefit from developments. Ends