26 Nov 2023

Government has been urged to treat as a matter of urgency the issue of unavailability of ear-tags as it has held the lives of farmers at ransom.

Contributing to the State-Of-the-Nation Address on November 23, Ghanzi South MP, Mr Motsamai Motsamai said household economies of most ordinary Batswana revolved around cattle, therefore any prolonged time without being able to sell was financially gnawing to them.

“At the moment daily activities such as magadi payment have halted, and meat-based businesses such as butcheries might collapse because some cannot pay rentals due to lack of income,” he said.

Mr Motsamai also said that the option of exporting live cattle in the meantime was not viable as it was less profitable.

“Live exporting requires some middlemen who would naturally want to buy cattle at a lower than market price value to maximize their profits, so that would affect many farmers,” he said.

Mr Motsamai also requested government to provide infrastructure such as roads and electricity at farms to boost production.

On other issues, he urged government to avail mobile clinics at cattle posts and farms to assist residents in far-flung areas such as Metsimantsho.

Summarising projects achieved during the last five years in his area, Mr Motsamai cited the resuscitation of farms in East Hanahai, New Xanagas and Ncojane among others.

He said through the community constituency projects funds the first of its kind horse race track was constructed at Charles Hill at the value of P4 million.

“We also managed to build a campsite at Kacgae and drilled a borehole equipped with solar. Most of these projects were done with the assistance of the Construction Industry Trust Funds students to cut costs,” he said.

Mr Motsamai also said the Metsimantsho artificial insemination camp, which he said was closed for a long time, was resuscitated.

For his part, Tlokweng MP, Mr Thulagano Segokgo, who is also the Minister of Communications, Knowledge and Technology said the recently launched SmartBots connectivity had been a success as it had so far managed to handle heavy traffic.

“About 170 services have already been incorporated into the project. Last year we spent around P60 million and this year P100 million will go towards the project.

I am proud to indicate that the establishment of SmartBots was done by Batswana youth,” he said.

Mr Segokgo also said five of the youth owned companies were already doing tenders outside the country, which he said indicated growth.

He said these companies had already employed about 123 people, 52 of them being women.

He said the youth would also be equipped in general entrepreneurship as a way of empowering them.

On his constituency, Mr Segokgo also appreciated some completed developments, such as the Tlokweng master development plan, the completion of teacher’s quarters at Matlala Junior School and the sub-station, which he said had increased power security in the village.

He, however, requested the storm-water drainage system which he said was a necessity for the village, a primary hospital as well as a senior school.

He said these major projects were necessitated by the high population of the village. ENDS