11 Jun 2025

The Ramotswa District Council is planning to venture into a multi-million Pula solar project at Seoposengwe near Boatle in a quest to diversify energy sources and reduce reliance on coal which currently fuels over 90 per cent of the country’s electricity.

Addressing a full council session on June 9, the district council chairperson, Mr Matlhomola Motsage said a Canadian company had shown a significant gesture to venture into the project which was currently at consultation stage.

“I am pleased to announce that this project is at consultation stage and it is anticipated to create employment for 150 people. Let me urge other companies and stakeholders to emulate this example and invest in our district as this can be a milestone achievement toward our Local Economic Development,” he said.

In other matters related to infrastructure development, Mr Motsage said the district council had a 72-hectare recreational park plot which was another area of consideration on socioeconomic opportunity. He said architects were still in the process of designing proposals for development of the park, and was anticipated to be completed by end of this month. Regarding the water seepage at Monganakodu, Mr Motsage said a geo-science report was done and presented in the past council session.

“There were some recommendations that were made, basing on the outcome of the study. In that regard, borehole drilling was amongst the recommendations made, and the Botswana Defence Force was to be roped in for borehole drilling,” he said.

Urging the concerned parties to finalise the outstanding processes, he said the community was also to be given feedback, but that was not done.

Councillor Motsage said it was regrettable that major projects that were expected to uplift the socioeconomic outlook of the district had been suspended. Those he said, include the construction of Ramotswa 25km internal roads which was to be implemented through Development Manager (DM) model.

“However, the project has been funded to the tune of over P19 million under this financial year 2025/26 for the consultancy services of the detailed design that was awarded to Pro- Serve Consulting. This project remains a critical development needed to address the road networking around the areas of Siga, Mothubakwane, Tsokung, Magope, and Disana, which are the areas of expansion for Ramotswa village,” he said.

He said another suspended project was the Asphalt overlay of A11 road, which was awarded at a contract sum of over P37 million and the water reticulation for Disana-Magope which was budgeted for at an amount of P30 million following evaluation completion. Mr Motsage said the P10 million allocated for the constituency community projects had been channelled to Water Utilities Corporation to address water supply challenges in Otse and part of Ramotswa.

“The proposed projects include the construction of a pipeline with associated appurtenances from Otse booster station to Moeding tank, upgrading of Sepitswane water network, upgrading of the network at Magopane Ward, which will be connected to the new water tank at Magope to boost pressure and construction of prepaid standpipes at Kelemogile, Tsokung, Dibatla and Magope-Disana,” he added. ENDS