05 Dec 2021

Strategies to diversify the Masama Livestock Improvement Centre to a dairy centre are at an advanced stage, says Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Mmusi Kgafela.

The livestock improvement centre is a community project that aims to improve livestock breeding in Kgatleng.

Minister Kgafela, who is also  Mochudi West Member of Parliament, noted in his debate of the State-of -the-Nation Address that the local authorities intended to diversify the farm usage from improving livestock breeding to a dairy centre in the near future.

With milk production in the country far short of the national demand of 65 million litres per annum, Mr Kgafela expressed optimism that the proposed dairy project would assist in augment milk supply in the country and reduce the country’s dairy products importation bill.

The Masama dairy project, he said, presented an opportunity for private sector participation in the dairy value chain. He also noted that it would create employment opportunities for locals.

Mr Kgafela also called on government to keep the promise of relocating Deborah Retief Memorial Hospital in Mochudi from its current location to a more customer friendly site.

 He said the current location of the hospital was inaccessible to the elderly and people with disability as it was on a hill top.

Mr Kgafela said the hospital was not only inaccessible, but was also in a dilapidated state. The Mochudi West MP also said there was need to align the country’s health care facilities to global standards and improve the conditions of service for citizens who serve as health care practitioners.

He said in the interim and pending the construction of a government hospital in Kgatleng, it was pleasing that a health centre specialising in cancer related illness was being constructed in Mochudi.

 He said the health facility would be built through a public private partnership with the objective of assisting government on the provision of quality health care.

Mr Kgafela also applauded government for the commissioning of the Malotwana-Mochudi road, saying the road would have a positive economic impact on his constituency as it linked Mochudi to the A1 Highway.

MP Kgafela, however, raised concern on the status of the Pilane landfill. He noted that it was commissioned in 1995 and that it had surpassed its lifespan by more than 10 years.

The landfill, he said, was an eyesore and health hazard to residents of Pilane, Morwa and Rasesa as well as commuters using the A1 road due to pollutants from the ever burning fires and smoke discharged into the environment. ENDS