18 May 2021

Kalahari Conservative Society (KCS) handed over water provision projects for horticulture purposes to village development committees of Tsetsebjwe and Gobojango on Monday. 

The projects, which included drilling and equipping of boreholes, erection of water storage tanks, irrigation material as well as construction of a guard house, toilets and storage facility for Gobojango project were funded at P1 410 000 from World Bank through SADC groundwater management institute.

The two one hectare projects were implemented by Kalahari Conservation Society on behalf of the Botswana government. 

Speaking at the handing over of the projects, Bobonong MP, Mr Taolo Lucas, condemned lack of efficiency in implementing projects in Botswana. 

Mr Lucas said many projects were not implemented and completed on time. 

“We have all the good ideas and intentions, but we are not efficient in our project implementation,” said MP Lucas who  added that some projects ended up being costly owing to sluggish implementation. 

Mr Lucas, who called for results following the handing over, stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had taught Batswana to produce food and shun over reliance on imports.

He advised that during the course of their farming, the VDCs could diversify their produce by planting herbs in addition to tvegetables. 

“The beauty of the project is in yielding fruits,” said MP Lucas, adding that the VDCs could feed Bobirwa.

He called on VDCs to think beyond construction of rental houses and implementing Ipelegeng projects and challenged them to engage in mega projects that could change the landscapes of their villages. 

For her part, KCS chief executive officer, Ms Thato Morule encouraged communities to form associations, establish trusts and cooperatives so as to garner some funding from international funders. 

She warned that funders were eager to assist communities when they had grouped themselves.

Ms Morule challenged the two VDCs to care for the projects and ensure that they bore fruits. She encouraged the beneficiaries to rope in the youngsters so that the projects could be passed on from generation to another as it continued feeding the communities. 

The KCS CEO called for total commitment to the projects saying their successes could attract further assistance in future. ENDS