24 Oct 2022

Preparations to convert Khwai Development Trust campsite into a clinic are at an advanced stage.

The trust chairperson, Mr Ronald Ntsogotlho told Khwai residents in a kgotla meeting recently that the delay was due to lease matters, which he said had halted progress.

He said the board was committed to ensuring that the project took off since it would allow residents to access health services close by.

In addition, he said accessing health services in Maun or nearby villages was costly as the residents  had to spend a lot of money on fuel and maintenance of vehicles.

“We have lost some patients on our way to Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital and I wish the office of the district commissioner could help us to complete the project to save lives,” he said.

The residents had appealed to relevant authorities to accelerate the project since the decision was taken in 2020 but there was no progress.

One of the residents, former trust chairperson, Mr Jonah Amos said when Khwai was gazetted, they had hoped for more developments to bring services closer to the community.

However, he expressed disappointment, citing the delay in the conversion of the campsite to a clinic as an example.

He said they were still forced to travel to Shorobe or Maun to access health services, something he said was cumbersome since there was no public transport.

Mr Amos said the campsite had a big office with many rooms, saying as such it could even include a maternity wing.

Currently, they were served through a mobile clinic that comes monthly, which arrangement disadvantages some patients who need specialised healthcare and services.

On other issues, Mr Ntsogotlho complained about the delay in the community being given back Tsaro Lodge, whose lease period had elapsed.

Other facilities to be given back to the trust were Khwai River Lodge and Machaba Safari Lodge once contracts elapse. ENDs