12 Jan 2022

The slow pace of project delivery in Pilane is worrying, Mochudi West Member of Parliament has said.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Pilane on Monday, Mr Mmusi Kgafela acknowledged that some projects had not materialised due to lack of funds, one such being the renovation of Deborah Retief Memorial Hospital budgeted at P420 million.

“I know that you have been pleading with government to build a clinic in Pilane since the health post is too small to accommodate the growing population” he said.

Mr Kgafela said construction of a clinic in Pilane delayed due to lack of funds and he would therefore, appeal to the health ministry to increase the number of nurses working at the health post.

He advised residents to seek legitimate investors who could assist to develop the area and not leave the task to government alone.

Though aware that investors mostly considered projects as construction, Mr Kgafela requested those with potential to consider the health sector.

He said the landfill in Pilane had been operating for more than 10 years and had reached its full capacity, becoming a threat to the community as it had become a major environmental pollutant.

“The landfill has to be closed. There have been delays due to lack of funds. The situation is out of control because the landfill produces harmful smoke, which leads to lung infections. We encourage companies who recycle waste materials to buy waste from the landfill to help reduce waste,” he said.

Mr Kgafela said there was a new landfill in Dikwididi which could be used in the meantime while looking for a solution, even though some complained about it being far.

Pilane Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson, Mr Gaopalelwe Mooki stated that COVID-19 made it difficult for developments to be carried out in the village. Mr Mooki said despite the obstacles, the committee successfully carried out main ones.

They included renovation of kgotla offices, construction of public toilets at the kgotla and paving the main road leading to the kgotla.

“VDC has managed to carry out 80 per cent of the work, we are happy with progress made.

It proves that the committee is committed to working for its community,” he said.

Mr Mooki emphasised the need to turn the health post into a clinic given population growth and volume of visitors, which he said was more than 100 per day.

He said the police office also experienced manpower and pleaded that staff be increased.

Another facility in need of renovations Mr Mooki said, was Pilane Primary School

“The school has to renovated, classrooms and toilets are not of good standard. We also request accommodation for teachers, they don’t have accommodation and mostof them commute from Gaborone.” Ends