06 Jan 2023

Mmathathe/Molapowabojang MP, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, has underscored the need for stakeholders to collectively advocate for the construction of Jwaneng/Maokane road.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Maokane on Thursday, Dr Dikoloti said the road was a link to Jwaneng and cut across different constituencies, hence the need for all to speak with one voice for it to be tarred.

“This is not just any road, my vision is to see it as a production road that links the area to the wider market of the value chain. Maokane people are farmers and I would like to see this road effectively serving it’s purpose of connecting you to the outside markets for your agricultural produce,” he said.

Notwithstanding, the MP said he had engaged the local authorities to ensure that the road was attended to on regular basis to improve its state.

He also appealed to the council to hasten the grading of internal roads and the football grounds in the village.

He implored Maokane residents to prioritise paving of internal roads through the Community Constituency Projects funds.

Dr Dikoloti was responding to the residents’ concerns that their main access road was in a bad state and made it hard for them to access services in Jwaneng.

 One of the residents, Mr Waditlhare Ditsie had lamented that they had long made requests for the road to be tarred but to no avail. He said the road was especially bad during the rainy season and caused damage to their vehicles.

“We have been talking about this road for many years now but still there is no progress. Our vehicles continue to have mechanical breakdowns due to the poor state of the road,” he said.

Another resident, Mr Piet Mokhinwane suggested that Maokane residents should adopt the Motho le Motho Kgomo model that founded the University of Botswana to fund the road. He underscored the need for Batswana to retrace their steps to the values that promoted self-sustenance which built the nation.

“It is high time we stand up for ourselves as the community of Maokane because there has not been any progress on this issue. I am ready to donate five bags of maize if we agree on the Motho le Motho Kgomo model of funding the construction of our road,” he said.

The assistant district officer for Mabutsane sub-district, Ms Tshepiso Leepo said the tendering process for spot improvement on the road was ongoing and was expected to be complete by end of the month. ENDS