14 Nov 2023

Serowe West Member of Parliament, Mr Onalepelo Kedikilwe has  appealed to government to establish an assembly plant for agricultural implements. 

During his contribution to the state-of-the-Nation Address, Mr Kedikilwe said even though he appreciated efforts made to develop the sector and improve food production, access to implements was equally important in boosting the farmers. 

He said the assembly plant would ease access to such machinery and to some extent reduce the buying price. 

In diversifying the agricultural sector, Mr Kedikilwe said the idea of encouraging farmers to rear wild animals at their farms was a welcome development. 

However, he said the number of animals awarded to farmers was not enough to promote, diversify or even grow the agro-tourism sector. 

He therefore advised government to give the farmers a reasonable number of wild animals to rear and get positive results as the idea was to run profitable business undertakings. 

   Regarding poor infrastructure in his constituency, Mr Kedikilwe said there was  was dilapidated infrastructure while there was equally a serious shortage of consumables. 

 “At Mannathoko Primary School in Serowe, classrooms are dilapidated with fibreglass hanging from ceilings. Students are still using pit latrines at the school and this is a health hazard,” he said. 

 Mr Kedikilwe also complained of poor  service provision saying priority should be on improving livelihoods. 

He appreciated government efforts in the digital transformation space. 

He said any development was a journey, which one must take one step at a time, hence the need to ensure that all corners of the country were serviced equally. 

The MP said some villages in his constituency such as Dimajwe and Malatswae were still to experience connectivity to the digital and technological world. 

“Looking at what is happening I am against the leaving no one behind tagline as some communities are still left behind,” he said. 

On other issues, Mr Kedikilwe Mr Kedikilwe said the idea of encouraging women to take positions of leadership including even in politics must not be limiting as it appears that certain positions such as that of party President were out of reach for them. 

He said women must be encouraged and empowered to stand for any position of leadership of their liking. Ends