Francistown City Council (FCC) has reported progress on health infrastructure, sports tourism and social protection programmes, as it works to improve service delivery for residents.

The mayor, Mr Gaone Majere said the clinic with a maternity wing under construction at Gerald Estate was 89 per cent complete and on track and expected to be completed end of next month. 

He said the clinic would significantly enhance maternal and child health services in the area, reduce referral pressure on secondary facilities and bring quality care closer to the communities that needed it most.

Mr Majere also announced restocking of the Gerald Estate Recreational Park with 15 impalas, four zebras and four ostriches within a 400-hectare paddock. 

He said an estimated P7.8 million is still required for a borehole and 19km of perimeter fencing to bring the park to full operational capacity.

On social protection, Mr Majere said 683 residents had registered for the Child Support Grant and after screening, 175 beneficiaries were submitted for this month’s payments. 

He said installation of solar street lights in Monarch, Gerald Estate, Blocks 2,3,4,7 and other areas were 100 per cent complete. 

Mr Majere said Water Utilities Corporation responded to the ongoing water challenges that were a result of frequent pipe bursts, as they occurred in the Blocks, Area S, Area W and industrial areas.

Francistown-Nata Road reconstruction has seen the completion of a 20km stretch, which has been opened to traffic, however, the project remained behind schedule, Mr Majere said.

He also stated that the council had absorbed 21 temporary employees into permanent and pensionable positions as part of government’s insourcing policy. 

Mr Majere urged councilors to support law enforcement operations aimed at curbing illegal business activities, saying a recent joint operation with Botswana Police yielded 83 cases.

The mayor urged residents to collect 912 uncollected national identity cards currently held at the Francistown office and to participate in the ongoing National Customer Satisfaction Survey.

“Our deliberations must be characterised by constructive debate, mutual respect, accountability and, above all, a shared commitment to the development of Francistown,” said Mr Majere. ends