08 Sep 2022

The Chinese Embassy in Botswana has donated over P415 000 for the refurbishment of Molepolole kgotla shelter. 

Speaking during the unveiling of the donation, Member of Parliament for Molepolole South, Mr Kabo Morwaeng said the shelter’s old thatch and dilapidated poles prompted him to seek assistance from the Chinese Embassy. 

Mr Morwaeng, who is also the Minister for State President, said he took advantage of the friendship between Botswana and China, adding the two countries cooperate in different sectors. 

He applauded the Chinese for coming to the assistance of Bakwena and said the kgotla played a crucial role in the development of the country. 

Mr Morwaeng said the project would be carried out by a Molepolole-based businessman, adding it was expected to last six weeks as the scope of work entailed replacing the thatch, supporting rafters and electricity connection. 

Mr Morwaeng said he would continue to ask for assistance in his endeavours of developing dikgotla in his constituency. 

He said plans were at an advanced stage to construct an office for Kgosi Kgari III of Bakwena. 

For his part, the Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Wang Xuefeng said the refurbishment of the kgotla was an illustration of a cordial relationship that existed between the two countries. 

He said in 1971, although the two countries did not have diplomatic relations, Botswana voted in favour of China at the United Nations Assembly, and the Chinese would forever be grateful. 

Mr Wang said the friendship had seen fruitful results in areas of cooperation in various fields, especially following President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s visit in 2018. 

He said the friendship had grown tremendously in recent years and last year when the Chinese government provided COVID-19 vaccines to Botswana. 

“We knew we had to help save the lives of our brothers and sisters,” he said. 

Mr Wang said his government had provided medical experts deployed in various hospitals across the country. 

Further, China has built schools in Maun, Mmopane and Serowe and another one in Kazungula was due for completion next year. 

He promised Bakwena that he would constantly visit them and assist them whenever the need arose. 

Kgosi Kgari III thanked the Chinese government, saying they had planned to either construct a new shelter or refurbish the existing one, but could not go ahead due to lack of funds. 

Kgosi Kgari thanked the Chinese for the assistance, adding that it was not the first time they received donations from the Embassy as they had previously given them 100 chairs. He said the gesture by MP Morwaeng to seek funding for the refurbishment indicated his dedication to his work. ends