24 Nov 2022

The process of decentralising districts which has started with approval of upgrading of 22 sub-district councils to full district level will continue to be assessed to ensure that service provision becomes seamless.

This was revealed by the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, MP Sethabelo Modukanele while responding to the State-of-the-Nation Address in Parliament on Wednesday.

Mr Modukanele said government regarded service provision to communities as important and would continue to monitor existing districts and assess the possibility of further decentralisation as a means of ensuring councils improve on delivery.

On other issues, Mr Modukanele said since President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi assumed the presidency, Botswana’s stature in the international community had improved as evidenced by the decision by the global diamond community to have the Kimberley Process Secretariat hosted in the country.

Following the recent update by the Minister of Health Dr Edwin Dikoloti on the status of challenges facing medicine procurement in the country, Mr Modukanele expressed hope that the proposed solutions would bear fruit.

He said it was noteworthy that the health ministry had committed to improving ambulance services as this was a challenge in Lerala/Maunatlala.

Mr Modukanele called for the upgrading of the Martin’s Drift border gate bridge, stating that it would reignite economic activity as it was an anchor to a commercial route with about 300 trucks travelling through the border daily into the country and going further towards other Southern African states.

He expressed concern that crime was on the rise in Lerala, revealing that he had invited the Minister of Defence and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi to visit the village and address the community on possible measures to remedy the situation.

On Education, Mr Modukanele said his constituents were pleased that maintenance and refurbishment of Moeng College had commenced.

He also commended the Ministry of Education and Skills Development for increasing tertiary students’ allowances.

Mr Modukanele also thanked those involved in the Parents and Teachers’ Association activities for their commitment to contributing to the learning process in schools, to the point of sacrificing their personal resources.

He said some roads in his constituency needed to be upgraded, citing the roads from Majwaneng to Lerala and the one from Maunatlala to Seolwane passing through Mokokwana and Mosweu.

Mr Modukanele said the Tswapong region was part of an eastern corridor that had huge tourism potential and called for infrastructure in the neighbouring areas such as Mashatu to enable the tourism industry to flourish. ENDS