10 Mar 2026

Constituents have been encouraged to come up with avenues that have the potential to revive the country’s ailing economy.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting in Xhumo on Friday, Assistant Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Keoagile Atamelang encouraged constituents to come up with high-impact concepts to turn the economy around.

To this end, he said constituents should leverage local resources, knowledge, and assets to foster economic growth and improve quality of life. Furthermore, he said the move would also create sustainable jobs, build resilience in communities, and reduce reliance on external aid.

He thus called for the resuscitation of cooperative societies, noting that they had the potential to transform communities by fostering economic empowerment as well as social cohesion.

“Plow a variety of crops to boost food production and self-sufficiency,” he said.

He also encouraged constituents to plow fodder to help increase the declining national cattle herd, noting that agriculture is another key sector that has the potential to revive the country’s economy if fully utilised. On other issues, constituents decried that buses that ply the Gaborone-Maun route do not pass through the villages of Rakops and Xhumo despite their permits prescribing so.

According to the residents, the development poses a high risk to their lives as they are forced to embark and disembark public transport in dangerous, wildlife-animal-prone areas.

Kgosi Seikgotleng Nsombiwa of Xhumo decried the lack of road signage along Serowe - Maun road, pointing out that there must be warning signs alerting motorists to save lives where there are potholes. He decried that the road has turned into a death trap due to lack of maintenance.

Kgosi Nsombiwa is of the view that Letlhakane should be converted into a town and a manufacturing hub for the Boteti hub, arguing the area was blessed with a lot of natural resources but that it was lagging behind in developments.

A resident of Xhumo, Mr Omphimetse Gaboatlholetswe concurred with Assistant Minister Atamelang that penalties for causing death by reckless driving should be hefty to curb unnecessary deaths.

Mr Elijah Motsamai was of the view that bus fares should be increased by five per cent and that in the next 10 years there should be no increase. BOPA