07 Jun 2022

Residents of Matlapana ward in Maun have complained about lack of developments in their area despite it being a tourism destination.

They raised the concern during a kgotla meeting addressed by the Member of Parliament for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile on Monday. 

Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson, Mr Tapologo Mosika said the ward had been sidelined even though they were part of Maun planning area and therefore, gate-way to the Okavango Delta. 

He said other areas had well-constructed kgotla shelters and offices, but most wards in Matlapana had no offices and shelters and dikgosi were forced to work under harsh weather conditions. 

Mr Mosika said Sexaxa kgotla did not have an ablution block, while the newly constructed primary school also had no provision for teachers’ accommodation with the result teachers were forced to rent houses in the village.

By&Beyond, a global travel and tours built the school as one of its community investment projects. Mr Mosika said at Legotlhwane, ward, residents joined forces with the VDC to build a courtyard to protect customers from inclement weather. 

Mr Mosika also complained about the bad state of internal roads, saying that Maun had expanded into Matlapana, resulting in an influx of people.

Sadly, the area lacked basic services. With regard to land ownership Mr Mosika said the VDC had many plots and there was need to lure investors to partner with it and develop them. 

However, he complained of delays by the land board and called on the area MP to assist. 

“Our efforts to get the certificates have been in vain. This has been a stumbling block for us to enter into partnership with some investors and venture into income generating projects and eventually develop our village,” he said. 

Mr Mosika said one of their plots was reserved for a guest house and recreational park but they did not have the resources to develop them. 

MP Kekgonegile said in response he was aware of villagers’ concerns and promised to take up their issues with the relevant authorities. 

He said there would be a stakeholder meeting, which would bring together Maun East leadership such as dikgosi, VDCs and different government departments to find solutions to some of the problems. The meeting is scheduled for departments on June 30.

“I believe some of the issues need collective effort and this meeting will help us to get first-hand information from relevant officers and escalate pending issues,” he said. 

Mr Kekgonegile said constituency funding was suspended in the last three financial years. 

However, he expressed hope that it would be availed this year, adding their intention was to put aside P2 million for renovation of old buildings such as dikgotla offices, VDCs houses and some school classrooms. 

With regard to internal roads, he said the council needed to devise ways of raising money for their improvement as the constituency fund was inadequate. ends