22 Nov 2023

Nkange Member of Parliament  has called on  government to expedite the delivery of projects that were long promised.

Contributing to the State-of-the-Nation Address debate on November 21, Dr Never Tshabang said his constituents had long waited for major projects such as the Tutume primary hospital, Tutume police station and completion of the Maitengwe police station.

“The Tutume primary hospital has been promised as far back as 2014, but it is not even included in the current National Transitional Development Plan,” he said.

Dr Tshabang also said the current Tutume police station, which was constructed in 1965, was now too small for the area, adding that a new one was long promised during NDP 11, with a plot identified.

He also decried the slow progress of Maitengwe police station, which he said should have been completed in 2019 and was now dilapidated due to non-occupationDr Tshabang also requested government to electrify the Botswana-Zimbabwe border along his constituency, saying the constituency was prone to invasion by elephants and buffaloes from the neighbouring country.

“The constituency is home to about 3 000 cattle, which translates to about a billion Pula worth to the economy, but this is at a risk due to dangers of foot and mouth disease,” he said.

Dr Tshabang also said the SONA should have deliberated more on job creation as many Batswana were engaged in menial jobs which put them at the risk of poverty.

“The issue of job creation is an issue that needs to be addressed aggressively, with emphasis on a living wage rather than a minimum wage,” he said.

The MP complained that even though the Tutume Sub-district was upgraded to a fully-fledged district, it was still operating with a budget of a sub-district, and that most of its assets were still at the former district headquarters in Serowe.

He also called for the urgent upgrading of the new district leadership, especially the deputy district commissioner, sub-tribal administrator and the sub-land board secretary.

Dr Tshabang also requested for an increase in the constituency community projects funding which is currently P10 million annually.

He said that this was because some constituencies like Nkange had now increased in size after the delimitation exercise rendering the funds inadequate. ENDS