07 Sep 2023

The North East District villages of Tati Siding, Matshelagabedi and Masunga are   experiencing shortage of office space due to incresing number of departments and bulging staff compliment.

Addressing a North East District Council (NEDC) session on proposals for the National Development Plan 12 (NDP12) and District Development Plan 9 (DDP9), principal economist, Ms Seipone Matlapeng said the population of Tati Siding, Matshelagabedi and Masunga has increased significantly.

She said the population growth of the villages was attributed to their’ proximity to Francistown.

Ms Matlapeng said the most affected departments with regards to shortage of office space included  agriculture, wildlife and national parks as well as the council.

This, she said, led to an unconducive working environment and poor service delivery.

She said health facilities were also not spared as there was congestion leading to compromised patients confidentiality.

On other issues, Ms Matlapeng said there was  an increase in cases of as rape, teenage pregnancies, defilements and drug abuse, including high cases of mental health issues among the youth.

Regarding human/wildlife conflict, she said the district continued to record an increase due to a rise in the elephant population.

She also said elephants migrated from Zimbabwe to Botswana and that they destroyed the border fence, peoples’ property, crops, especially in Patayamatebele, Ditladi, Matopi and Matsiloje.

She noted that they were attracted to the area by the availability of dams and rivers.

Ms Matlapeng said human/wildlife conflict had also ocurred in new areas along the border fence from Kalakamati to Moroka. She said it had been recommended that an electric fence be constructed to protect arable land.

Earlier on in his remarks, council chairperson, Mr Kudzani Tobokwani told councillors that the proposals did not mean that projects would be implemented as it depended on the availability of funds.

He said that some projects were set aside due to the advent of COVID-19 and other national prioritise. Councillor Tagala Motsamai of Matshelagabedi said the introduction of reception classes in some schools in the district was a welcome development.

Councillor Edward Gadzangeni of Masunga said 15 hostels at Maruje Junior Secondary School were becoming a white elephant as they were never used in more than six years.

Councillor Bakani Badziili of Siviya requested that Shanganani Junior Secondary School should be turned into a unified school, saying some pupils from the district were admitted from as  far as Nata and Shakawe.

Matsiloje/Matopi councillor, Ms Flora Mpetsane said there was need to promote tourism in the district as they had two dams in the district, Ntimbale and Shahe dams, to improve economic development.

She also said there was illegal gold mining around Matsiloje, Matopi and Kalakamati.ENDS