06 Nov 2022

Residents of five villages in the Letlhakeng/Lephephe constituency have called for the establishment of two additional constituencies in the Kweneng region.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting addressed by the Delimitation Commission in Lephephe on Thursday, the residents said their area should be under the proposed Lentsweletau/Lephephe constituency.

Presenting the ideas from the five villages of Loologane, Boatlaname, Shadishadi, Sojwe and Lephepe, who have formed a cluster using the acronym LOBOSASHALE, Mr Kgomotso Lekuntwane said they stood to benefit in terms of development and access to services.

Mr Lekuntwane said currently they sought services from Letlhakeng, which was too far as they had to travel through Molepolole, which journey was further exacerbated by unreliable public transport.

He said although the constituency was under Letlhakeng, their councillors were under Molepolole Administrative Authority (MAA), which he said brought confusion as some services were available in Letlhakeng and others in Lentsweletau.

He said for example, youths who needed to access Youth Development Fund services travelled to Letlhakeng, but had to go to Lentsweletau to get assistance from the agricultural office.

Mr Lekuntwane said such an arrangement had also been a disadvantage as their councillors did not have the opportunity to air views on Community Constituency Projects, as the funds were distributed through the constituency.

He said previously, their villages were under Lentsweletau constituency, but a decision was made in 2012 to transfer them to Letlhakeng/Lephephe without their input.

He said the new Lentsweletau/Lephephe constituency would be made up of the five villages and include Mogonono, Mahetlwe, Ditshukudu, Medie, Kgope, Kweneng villge, Dikgatlhong, Gakuto, Mmatseta, Lentsweletau and Metsimotlhabe.

Mr Lekuntwane said Mmopane and Kopong could then form another constituency, adding that based on his calculations, their population at 38 000, met the threshold as set in the constitution.

Letlhakeng/Lephephe constituency, although it would have less people, would be more manageable as its size would be reduced, hence give the area Member of Parliament less time to travel, he said.

Mr Lekuntwane even suggested that Magokotswane in Molepolole should not be part of the Molepolole constituency.

Earlier, Ms Kgomotso Kootshole, Lephepe Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson, had said their area had been disadvantaged following its transfer to Letlhakeng/Lephephe constituency.

She said it was easier to travel to Lentsweletau than Letlhakeng, adding that they could even wait for transport to Lentsweletau in the nearby Hatsalatladi. ENDS