02 Aug 2020

Member of Parliament for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe says in order to transform Letlhakane into an economic hub there is need to review the village development plan.

Mr Lelatisitswe said this during the Letlhakane development plan review meeting with the village leadership and stakeholders from the surrounding mines.

He emphasised the need to have a plan that could attract investors to the village and be able to facilitate business.

Mr Lelatisitswe, also the Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness said the plan should provide information on how the mines surrounding the village could provide support in terms of corporate social investment.

He noted that tourist sites such as pans, which were in the village peripheries, could host tourists on transit to Kasane and Maun.

The plan, he said, could be marketed and sold to the international community, citing that Mmatshumo village should be included in the plan, as it could be regarded as a ward in Letlhakane.

Mr Lelatisitswe said the current plan was not communicating hence the need to review it to support developments and the sub-district’s economic status.

The district principal physical planner, Mr Vikisikhali Majama said the study would facilitate minimal conflict on land use along transportation and interception points.

Mr Majama stated that the study would focus on change of land use that had been done along the corridors from the beginning of the plan in 2007 up to 2017.

He indicated that the study would make recommendations on the planning considerations to be made when assessing applications for the areas.

The study, he said, identified three main activity corridor areas being, Motsumi Junior Secondary School junction, Serowe- Orapa road and Letlhakane-Francistown road.

The general manager of Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines, Mr Bakani Motlhabani stated that Debswana’s desire was to invest in a plan that could uplift the economy. Mr Motlhabani indicated that they would like to actively participate in any form of development.

He said there was a lot of potential in Letlhakane, noting that community development was part of Debswana’s agenda, adding ‘funds permitting we would like to assist, so that Letlhakane could have a robust plan.’ Ends