25 Jun 2023

Infrastructure development is one of the many enablers that has the potential to stimulate the economy by way of creating employment for Batswana, says the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele. 

Mr Modukanele said this during the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a new primary school worth over P51 million at the Gerald Estate in Francistown recently. 

 “Ke gone mo re dumelang mo go gone re le lephata gore pele ga o leba go sele o tshwanetse wa sokela dirope mo banning ba kgaolo pele,” he said underscoring the importance of citizen economic empowerment brought about by booming infrastructure development. 

He said it was his ministry’s wish that a substantial amount of revenue earmarked for the project be spent in Francistown to revamp further the local economy and relieve people from poverty brought about by unemployment.  

Mr Modukanele implored the contractor to ensure that the project did not attract cost overruns due to failure to finish on time, according to specifications and within the agreed budget. 

“As a government, we are not pleased with the bad tendencies of some contractors who fail to deliver projects on time. We are operating on a string tight budget and would therefore not be in a position to entertain such unnecessary expenses,” he cautioned the contractor. 

Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane was equally happy about the start of the project, which he said would help lessen congestion at the other two primary schools at the Gerald Estate. 

Mr Moswaane thus called on residents to work hand in hand with the contractor to ensure that the facility’s construction was smooth. 

“Ba le berekang Ipelegeng mme le batla go hirwa mo kagong ya sekole ke kopa gore le itse gore melao go tlaa bo go bereka fela ya ga rakonteraka eseng ya Ipelegeng,” he advised. 

Also, he gave a stern warning to people who had the tendency to steal items from the construction site, saying those liable would face the full wrath of the law. 

The city mayor, Cllr Godisang Radisigo told residents that more developments such as the district hospital had been earmarked for  Gerald Estate. 

Such developments, Mr Radisigo said, demanded that residents jealously guard against any form of vandalism, which he said was counter productive. 

Trust Construction managing director, Mr Xui Hai, assured that although they were faced with a few challenges at the initial stage of construction, the project would be completed on time and within budget. 

Earlier on Gerald Estate customary court president, Kgosi Motlatsi Kediseng commended government for its commitment towards the education of citizens.  “I am not happy by the bad habits of some people who reverse great achievements such as this one by stealing,” he said, warning that he would make sure that those caught  stealing would be dealt with accordingly. 

The school project, which is expected to be complete by May next year, also comprises 25 teachers units at the cost of about P25 million which had already started on the other side of Gerald Estate. The state-of-the-art school  has 22 classrooms, a special education block, pre-school, kitchen, guard house and library. ENDS