26 Oct 2022

According to this year’s census, the population of Lobatse stands at 30 785, some 7 897 people short of the current constituency threshold.

 And the town’s population has only increased slightly from the 2011 figure of 30 730, Delimitation Commission chairperson Justice Mokwadi Gabanagae told Lobatse residents during a consultative meeting on Tuesday.

He was responding to residents proposal for the town to have  two constituencies.

 Justice Gabanagae said apart from population, other factors such as natural community of interest (culture, traditions and language), means of communication (roads and telecommunications), geographical features, terrain and vastness of the area had to be taken into consideration. 

 Residents unanimously agreed that the constituency be divided into two and nearby villages incorporated to form Lobatse South and Lobatse North.

Umbrella Development Committee chairperson Mr Topo Mankanku said Molapowabojang, Digawana and Gopong villages, located only a few kilometers from the town, should be part of the proposed Lobatse South constituency. 

The three currently fall under Mmathethe/Molapowabojang constituency.  

Mr Mankanku argued that residents of the mentioned villages were already reliant on Lobatse for amenities such health services, education and employment opportunities.

“In our consultative with residents of Lobatse, they have indicated that it is important for this town to be divided into two constituencies. One of the reasons they put forward for that request was that people from Molapowabojang get services from this town and therefore their village should be part of Lobatse constituency,” he said.

Mr Mankanku said residents suggested that Peleng, Thema, Motswedi and Maokane townships should form part of the same constituency while Newlook/Maipei, Delta/Botoka, Woodhall, Tsopeng and Boswelatlou townships should make up the other constituency.  

Mr Moalosi Rasesia concurred with Mr Mankanku that Molapowabojang, Gopong and Digawana villages relied heavily on Lobatse and should officially be part of the constituency. 

He said servicing people from the three villages affected the town’s budget. 

“When they are part of our constituency officially, they would be included in the budget of this town,” he said.

Mr Rasesia also suggested that Otse and Mogobane become part of the Lobatse North constituency.

Adding his voice to the discussion, Mr Elias Rantleru said Digawana, Gopong and Molapowabojang  should be part of Lobatse.

 “There are children from Gopong attending school in Lobatse. There are so many people from those villages working in Lobatse,” he said.

Backing the two constituency proposal, former Lobatse mayor Ms Caroline Lesang suggested that Lobatse North constituency start from Sunnyside Farm and incorporate all other farms located north of the town. ENDS