28 Oct 2020

Nkange MP, Dr Never Tshabang has  said a new hospital will be built in Tutume at a cost of P239 million.  

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Maitengwe, Dr Tshabang said the new hospital would be constructed following the mid-term review of the National Development Plan 11 passed by the last Parliament meeting.

He said the designs had been completed and construction would take three years.  

Dr Tshabang further stated that the ongoing Ntimbale water reticulation project was also part of the constituency development projects and was expected to be completed in August 2021.  
He said the project would improve the water situation in the area noting that upon completion all the nine villages in his constituency would receive water from Ntimbale dam.

The Nkange legislator informed the village leadership that currently they were being supplied with water from Maitengwe well fields.

He explained that even after the villages had been connected to the dam, the wells would remain on standby for any shortages that might occur in future.

This, he noted that it would be a long term backup which would address the water shortage.

Updating the meeting on the progress of ongoing projects such as the resealing of Tutume-Maitengwe road and Maitengwe police station, the MP said it was disappointing that local companies were failing government in implementation of projects thereby thwarting efforts to economically empower  locals.

 He highlighted that Maitengwe police station was far behind schedule, as completion had been planned for May 2019, but construction was still ongoing.

He noted that the contractor had recently promised that he would complete work in December this year, but looking at the current status of the project it was unlikely that he would deliver on time.

He further explained that government had since taken responsibility of purchasing materials for the project instead of giving money to the contractor.

Regarding the resealing of the road, he said the contractor had failed to pay his employees, despite government’s COVID 19 relief funding to companies.

Dr Tshabang said at some point he mediated between the contractor and employees after he dismissed them from work, despite government notification that no company should retrench employees during that period.

He said the latest situation was that employees had downed tools pending payment of their three months wages from July, August and September this year.

He therefore said they had engaged relevant authorities to address the situation and allow completion of the project. Ends