23 Oct 2013

Residents of Shashe Mooke have decried Tonota Sub-land board’s delay in allocating of farms in Majwana.

Speaking  at a kgotla meeting addressed by Tonota South MP, Mr Pono Moatlhodi on Monday, October 21, one of the residents, Mr Molatlhegi Gosenyang called for the intervention of the Minister of Lands and Housing as the matter had dragged on for long.

Mr Gosenyang said although the farms were allocated to them prior to establishment of land boards in the country, the sub-land board refused to issue them with certificates.

Another resident, Mr Bafokeng Fabi explained that in 2008, Ngwato Land Board approved and recommended the certification of 16 farms, which are 16 hectares each, but the sub-land board failed to implement the recommendation.

Mr Fabi said instead the sub-land board insisted on allocating five hectares, which was contrary to the recommendation of Ngwato Land Board. Still on the issue of Majwana farms, Mr Aron Ndolo implored the sub-land board to make follows ups after allocations. He said some people extended their boundaries after the allocation of the five hectares.

Another resident, Ms Maitumelo Seretse complained of the unfair treatment and late payment of constituency league teams by the organising committee. Mr Phillip Monyatsiwa suggested that the village should be served by the Gerald Police instead of Tati Town Police as was currently the case. He also complained that stock theft cases were not tried at their customary court.

Earlier on, the Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson, Mr Anderson Moalosi commended the government for improving the roads that link farms and the village. He said by making the roads accessible, the government was improving food production. However he decried  shortage of farming implements.

He also applauded the government for the Shashe Mooke-Francistown road but said they were still looking forward for the Mandunyane-Shashe Mooke-Borolong-Mathangwane road. Mr Moalosi complained about shortage of water in the village, and noted  a number of projects such as the Poverty Eradication backyard gardens were negatively affected.

He lamented that a project of a destitute house that was funded by Debswana at the tune of P84 000 was also delayed by shortage of water. For his part, Mr Moatlhodi urged residents of Shashe Mooke to apply for birth certificates for their school going children because effective next year, they will be required for children to register for the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE).

He noted that in 2011, he appealed to the Ministry of Minerals, Water and Energy Resources to connect Shashe Mooke directly to the Shashe Dam but was informed that due to budgetary constraints, that could not be so.

Mr Moatlhodi noted that one of the concerns by the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) was that the residents used water from public stand pipes to water their livestock resulting in shortage of water in the village.

The MP commended residents who relocated to pave way for the Shashe Mooke-Francistown road, which he said was 78 per cent complete. In some of the responses by officials, Tonota sub-land board chairperson, Mr Lingani Dube explained that the issue of Majwana farms was resolved by Ngwato Land Board and should the residents be unsatisfied they should appeal to the Land Tribunal.

He appealed to the residents to report to his office people who extend their plot parameters. Assistant Superintendent Gaolapelwe Phaphe explained that some stock theft cases were not tried at the customary court because accused persons engaged lawyers.

Shashe Mooke councillor, Mr Isaac Mabechu said he was handling the issue of late payments of constituency leagues monies but said he observed that the teams were to blame. He said if the teams failed to put their houses in order then there was no way the constituency tournament committee could assist them. ENDS