25 Apr 2021

Kanye South Member of Parliament has challenged his team of councillors to channel their energies towards community projects that could impact the lives of ordinary Batswana and do away with the ‘big shining object’ sort of approach to development.

Speaking during a consultative meeting in Kanye recently, Dr Lemogang Kwape noted that they were left with only three planning cycles in office and urged them to get a move on.

He beseeched councillors to align themselves with the Constituency Community Projects (CCP) funds and identify priority projects that could be carried out in their respective areas.

 He said the funds were intended for projects outside the normal council budget but now worried that the money has somewhat become part of the normal council budget.

Dr Kwape, also Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation challenged councillors to carry out critical projects that would have a lasting, positive impact in the communities they served rather just buildings.

While he appreciated physical structures, he said at times their impact was minimal compared to the number of lives that could be affected by the provision of critical, everyday services like water or electricity.

To this end, he said it was pivotal to use part of the funds to maintain internal roads, noting that they were in a sorry state, across the constituency.

He said the Tsopye-Total filling station road in Kanye would be paved to ease movement. He was worried that taxi drivers refused to transport the residents to the area owing to the bad state of the road.

Still in Kanye, he said a bridge would be built at Kgwakgwe to enable residents to enjoy goods and services from the other side particularly during wet seasons.

As for Lotlhakane East, he said the gravel road from Phutisutlha to the main kgotla would be paved. Likewise, he said the stretch between the main kgotla and the clinic in Sesung would be paved together with that between RAC and Goora-Mongala kgotla in Kanye.

The legislator also shared that a share of the funds would be directed to equipping existing boreholes in Tsonyane and Seherelela as well as drilling and equipping one in Betesankwe.

Dr Kwape stressed the need to work as a team regardless of political differences, which he said, could take the constituency further than if each one of them would, working in isolation.

He also encouraged the councillors to be proactive and visible on community issues. 

The councillors unanimously agreed that internal roads needed an urgent attention across the constituency.

 Marapalalo ward councillor Mr Kagiso Mosarwane also Kanye Administrative Authority finance committee chairperson noted that they have a prerogative to decide what to do with CCP funds and likewise urged councillors to pull together in the same direction.

Specially elected councillor Ms Winnie Letlole expressed optimism that the identified projects would have a lasting impact in the community.

Councillor Kefentse Morake of Nyorosi East also gave the idea of internal roads thumbs up, saying the storm water drainage system needed to be considered as well. He said some parts of the village swamped during the wet seasons.

Councillor Tumisang Masire of Nyorosi West ward said improving roads infrastructure to facilitate access to goods and services could benefit constituents more than building such facilities as community halls which could benefit a small section of a community.

Councillor Sebati Kabomo also gave the idea a nod, arguing that without usable internal roads it was even difficult to erect street lights to ward off criminals in some areas.

He said this also presented an opportunity for them to improve access roads to Sebego and Logaba kgotla shelters.

Specially elected councillor Pona Ntsimako was pleased that Phutisutlha-main kgotla gravel road would also be paved but proposed that solar powered streetlights be installed to thwart crime in the village.

Councillor Sinki Lephalale of Ruele ward also reiterated that developments would only come if they pulled together in the same direction. 

He also decried the appalling state of the roads across the constituency. Ends