13 Oct 2022

Member of Parliament for Tonota, Mr Pono Moatlhodi has announced his intention to retire from active politics when his term comes to an end in 2024.

Mr Moatlhodi told a kgotla meeting in Semotswane on Tuesday, that he was happy to quit active politics with a good track record of bringing developments to the constituency.

He cited the construction of the Semotswane-Shashemooke-Borolong-Chadibe-Mathangwane road, which was on the pipeline as one of his achievements.

“The road is my baby and I am happy that funds for the construction of the project have been secured,” he added.

He said the project, and many competing others, were deferred during NDP 11 because of lack of funds, but promised his constituents this time around there was no turning back.

Mr Moatlhodi, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, said another project that he would like to see being completed during his tenure was the construction of Tonota primary hospital.

He said government had taken a decision that all major projects that were earmarked for NDP 11 be given first priority in NDP 12 and the expectation was that the hospital would be included. He emphasised that it was now overdue, since he requested for it in 2004 during the nineth Parliament.

On other issues, MP Moatlhodi thanked the residents of Semotswane for having recently elected their kgosi as requested by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.

He said developments had hitherto been moving at a snail’s pace, because the village did not have a kgosi to propel them.

He said now that they would be having a traditional leader, they should, through the village development committee (VDC), work to develop their village.

Mr Moatlhodi also advised the VDC to build sustainable houses for civil servants as well as to maintain them regularly to bring revenue into the committee’s account.

He said civil servants, as the drivers of the economy, deserved better accommodation so that they delivered diligently and with distinction on their mandate.

He also implored the residents to work hand in hand with civil servants posted to their village and treat well.

He informed them that various civil servants in Tonota, under the leadership of the Office of the District Officer, would take various services to the village on October 20.

He appealed to the villagers to ‘make hey while the sun shines’.

Mr Moatlhodi also advised the residents to keep their environment clean and safe, saying reports that some residents were illegally dumping disposable nappies in Tholodi River must come to an end.

He said rivers played an important role in the lives of the people, hence they had to be preserved.

This was after the VDC chairperson, Mr Emmanuel Nno informed the MP that there were some people who were dumping disposable nappies in the Tholodi River.

Mr Nno had also wanted to know when the Semotswane-Shashemooke-Borolong-Chadibe and Mathangwane road would be upgraded to bitumen standard and complained about the increasing crime rate in the village.

He also raised a concern about illegal sand mining both at Shashe and Tholodi rivers, saying the VDC did not have the power to take action against the perpetrators.

He commended Ipelegeng workers for reducing crime by cutting down trees, which had been a haven for criminals.

Mr Nno thanked government for availing money for the pre-school project that included wages for employees and furniture.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Michael Madumela had called on the residents to work hand in hand with the village leadership to develop their village.

For their part, some residents applauded Mr Moatlhodi for retiring from active politics.

One of the residents, Mr Lesitamang Radipitse commended Mr Moatlhodi for having worked tirelessly in developing the constituency, but was worried that he might retire before the commencement of the long awaited construction of the Tonota primary hospital. ENDs