04 Nov 2020

Kgosi Gokgathang Moalosi of Sankoyo has praised the government for showing the will to upgrade a road linking Maun and Kasane.

He said the community had long requested government to tar the said road that passes through their village and Mababe as it was in a bad state.

Kgosi shared his views in an interview following a meeting with the area MP, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile, who told Sankoyo leadership that government had shown the intention to upgrade the said road to ease movement between Maun and Kasane.

Kgosi Moalosi said upgrading of the road was a good move as it was of economic benefit in that it contributed to the tourism sector, which was the backbone of the country’s economy.

The road, he said, had a lot of traffic because tourists on transit to the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park used it, together with big trucks transporting goods to different safari camps in the delta.

He stated the area MP explained that although the road was not in the National Development Plan, the relevant authority had come up with some short term measures to make Shorobe/Sankoyo and Sankoyo/Khwai roads passable while awaiting the design of Maun/Kasane road.

Kgosi Moalosi appreciated efforts by government, noting that the dusty road was a health hazard to people’s lives and that it also brought sorrow to families as it had contributed to loso of many lives.

Meanwhile, during his recent meetings with community trusts in his constituency, MP Kekgonegile explained that he engaged the Minister of Transport and Communications regarding the status of the road and he acknowledged the importance of the road and stated that its design would be considered in the next financial year.

He said the minister noted that currently the focus was on improving Nata-Maun and Maun-Mohembo roads.

Mr Kekgonegile also noted that officials from Department of Roads in Maun had revealed that Shorobe-Khwai road was earmarked for dry grading.

The road, he said, had been divided into two phases being Shorobe/Sankoyo and Sankoyo/Khwai, adding that he had been informed that the commencement of Shorobe-Sankoyo road would delay as the project was reported to be before PPADB appeals board because the bidders had protested.

Sankoyo-Khwai road, he said, was reported to be in the evaluation stage and the contractor is expected to be on site by December.

Mr Kekgonegile appreciated that the villagers had long requested the road to be tarred and stated that government was not against the idea and hoped the funding of the road would be considered in the next budget session. ENDS