24 Oct 2013

Tonota South MP, Mr Pono Moatlhodi has informed residents of Mmandunyane that the Mmandunyane/Mathangwane road will be constructed when the economy recovers.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in the village on Tuesday, Mr Moatlhodi said the total cost of the construction of the road including four bridges and other structures was estimated at P500 million. The MP said the Tonota sub-council could not build any bridges across the rivers in the anticipated Mmandunyane/Mathangwane road because the suspended project had already catered for them.

The MP was responding to residents’ plea for a bridge across Mmaeroro River along the Shashe Mooke gravel road. On other issues, Mr Moatlhodi informed the residents that the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Margaret Nasha had piloted a project dubbed Botswana Speaks.

He said the project was piloted in Nata/Gweta, Maun West, Boteti North and South East South and it was aimed at helping constituents to share their input and opinions directly with their MPs. Mr Moatlhodi said through the project, citizens will also take part in discussions on legislation as discussed in Parliament.

The MP commended the Mmandunyane VDC for building a house for a destitute person in the village. The residents also complained about the agricultural demonstrator, whom they said was neglecting his duties.

One of the residents, Mr Boy Maposa said due to the agricultural demonstrator’s laxity, tractor drivers interested in participating in Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) had to register in Tonota.

Another resident, Ms Mmaoshadi Fanyane, who is also the secretary of the Farmers Committee, lamented that the agricultural officer had on two occasions called kgotla meetings but, he neither turned up nor apologised to the community for his failure to attend.

The Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Folly Doctor applauded government for the renovation of the kgotla fence, toilets at the primary school and the shade for patients at the clinic. Mr Doctor said their village scooped position three in the cleanest village competitions in the Central District and lamented that one thing that denied the village the top position was the kraals that were  in the village.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Moila Moabi complained of stray dogs that killed goats at the dam and the increase in the number of stock theft cases. In response, the MP noted that he will take up the issue of the agricultural demonstrator with his superiors in Tonota. He also promised to discuss the issue on stray dogs with the Department of Veterinary Services. ENDS