29 Aug 2024

In modern world, access to electricity is considered a basic precondition for an improved quality of life and economic development, hence government's immense effort for extensive rural electrification.

Therefore, it was all jubilation in Khwee, a village in the Boteti area when the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Honourable Lefoko Moagi launched the free rural village electrification project on Wednesday.

Khwee is one of the villages in the country that was not electrified, but it is now among the 112 villages that would benefit from the new project.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Moagi said the programme aimed to provide electricity to new villages and extension of network to already electrified villages in rural areas in order to create enabling environment for successful economic growth.

He said government had targeted 83 per cent rural electrification rate by August this year.

Furthermore, the Minister highlighted that the project, that would cost government a lot of money, was an important milestone for rural development and one of the efforts to increase electricity access by households in the country.

He said about P210 million had been budgeted for connection of electricity to 20 villages while P286 million was for extension of network to already electrified 92 villages. As contractors are already on site in Khwee, Minister Moagi appealed to members of the community to desist from vandalising the infrastructure and  stealing of cables as these could thwart government’s efforts to bring services and developments closer to the people.

He encouraged Khwee residents to be on the look out for such teething troubles.

Area MP, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe commended government for the noble initiative, adding that electricity connection instilled dignity in respective households.

He said in Boteti East, which is his constituency; three villages of Khwee, Mmatshumo and Mokubilo would benefit from rural village electrification project.

For his part, Kgosi Meshack Tseleng of Khwee appreciated electricity connection in his village, saying it was a welcome development which would see lives changed for the better in various aspects.

He said electricity was a crucial source of energy for everyday activities such as cooking and powering of electronic devices, among others. 

With the provision of electricity, Kgosi Tseleng said people of Khwee would now use fridges for prolonged preservation of perishables.

He also noted that the quality of education would improve because of power availability in the village.

One of the village elders, Mr Gabareutwe Boloka also commended government for the project, adding that it would change their lives for the better. ENDS