22 Jun 2021

Construction of the Mmathethe/Bray road stretch would enhance agricultural value chain and industrialisation by linking Kgalagadi District with the Lobatse beef market.

Speaking during tour of agricultural value chains and industrialisation assessment on Saturday, Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Ms Beauty Manake, said the 217km road from Werda to Mmathethe would reduce transport costs for farmers.

She said Parliament had approved construction of Mmathethe/Bray road, which would unlock opportunities for new high growth companies in the private sector and create employment opportunities for the youth.

She said value chain development was priority number four for President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi. 

She said government continued to create coordinated development to facilitate farmers, therefore construction of the road stretch and Tsabong multi-species abattoir would stimulate development.

Ms Manake said construction of Mmathethe/Bray road would also assist in the export market as government targeted to reach the chevron and the mutton market which was outside the country.

The route, she said, would enhance closeness to the market.

Ms Manake highlighted that small details were critical to enabling bigger developments, hence the need to explore every opportunity that could bring development.

Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Sam Brooks, said due to lack of funds, the proposed road would leave out about 50km of a road stretch which connected Bray to Werda.

However, he said negotiations with Ministry of Transport and Communication were underway to ensure that the 50km gravel stretch was included.

The MP encouraged farmers to support government saying the route was going to be the shortest to Ramatlabama border post through which farmers could export live cattle.

Mr Brooks said the road would add economic value to the region.

Moreover, he said, lessons should be learnt from construction of the Tsabong-Bokspits road which left a 44 kilometers road stretch that linked Bokspits to Kgalagadi Trasfrontier Park.

Leaving out the 44km stretch, he said, affected tourism activities in the area since it was difficult for tourists to use the gravel route.

“We should be careful not to repeat a similar mistake when we construct the Mmathethe-Bray route. We need to improve connectivity and ensure that the road network serves the farmers adequately,” he said.ENDS