08 Nov 2020

Government has approved construction of two fully fledged primary schools in Gaborone.

Addressing a media conference in Gaborone on November 6, Gaborone mayor, Mr Father Maphongo said construction of the new primary schools was aimed at addressing issues of over enrolment in the capital city.

He added that other measures also set in place included construction of new classrooms under backlog eradication project and maintenance of school buildings.
Giving an update on the council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Maphongo said his office had assisted and counseled 5 053 clients who were quarantined at the 23 sites around the city.

He mentioned that the exercise was still ongoing and available to the public.

Moreover, the mayor also pointed out that the council had registered 28 cases of homeless persons and had been provided with shelter.

In terms of reconstructing some of the family challenges that increased during the pandemic, the mayor said the council also assisted some family members who were forced to move out of their homestead because of gender based violence (GBV).

Mr Maphongo said the GCC was tasked to provide food relief to those who needed such assistance and to undertake such a task, 78 temporary social workers were hired to complement the council’s existing staff members.

“As a result, we managed to register 50 538 households, which required assistance, but out of those 41 381 were recommended to be assisted.

Those who were not recommended were considered to have affordability in terms of securing their food!” he explained.

The Mayor further expressed his gratitude to the business community and agricultural sector for assisting in the food relief program.

He also said services such maintenance of facilities especially toilets and construction of wash basins had been attended to. “I am proud to announce that we had engaged local artisans in all the 29 primary schools in addition to handymen for this endevour,” he said.

Citing projects the Council had undertaken, Mr Maphongo said pedestrian walkaways around the city especially major corridors were to be erected so as to promote walking and non-motorized transport.

Moreover, the Mayor appealed to the public to desist from illegal dumping of waste in open spaces and along the railway reserve.

For his part, GCC Town Clerk, Mr Lebuile Israel said the council had implemented a recovery plan that included infrastructure projects and use of open spaces for different uses in collaboration with other key stakeholders. ENDS