26 Sep 2013

Tsholofelo South ward councillor Mr Moagi Taunyane has expressed concern about the recent spate of armed robberies in Gaborone resulting in some investors losing lives. Debating the Mayor’s presentation in a full council meeting on September 24, Mr Taunyane said there was an urgent need to address the issue of crime in the city so that potential investors were not scared away.

He called on government to increase penalties for those found in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. Mr Taunyane also appealed for a special dispensation for the maintenance of street and traffic lights, though he said he was mindful that the country had not yet recovered from the global economic meltdown.
He also appealed for the removal of Block 8 and University of Botswana circles to reduce traffic congestion and loss of life.

For his part Village ward Councillor Mr Seabelo Thekiso said the dream to turn Gaborone into a diamond hub would not materialise because, he said, there were many challenges that remained unresolved. He explained that the city has been declared a livestock free zone but what was happening on the ground was the opposite adding that other challenges included poor maintenance of street and traffic lights.

He advised that for Gaborone to become a diamond hub, all stakeholders must be involved. The Councillor also complained about the mayor’s suggestion to recruit an acting chief executive officer for the city’s company- Civic Centre Holdings- when all the processes to appoint directors of the company had not yet been done.

Mr Thekiso also said the Independence Day celebrations were around the corner but councillors, as the stakeholders, had not yet received invitations and schedule of events. Specially elected councillor Mr Geoffrey Mapharing complained about the bad state of market stalls around Gaborone.

He said it was wrong for the Council management to engage another law firm to run market stalls without consulting councillors. In his address, the Mayor Mr Haskins Nkaigwa had complained of the bad state of market stalls and lobbied councillors to come up with a resolution on the matter. ENDS