09 Mar 2014

The Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe has called for the remuneration of headmen of arbitration as they play an important role.

Debating the 2014/2015 budget estimates for Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development on March 6, Dr Kedikilwe said there should be equal distribution of headmen of arbitration. He noted that some areas had a high number of headmen while others had a small number.

Dr Kedikilwe, who is also Leader of the House, commended the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele for the upgrading of Diloro and Mogapinyana customary courts. He said these customary courts, however, were still in need of resources and manpower to service communities in those villages.

Dr Kedikilwe said his area still awaited construction of a service centre which would serve among others the villages of Kgagodi, Diloro and Mogapinyana. The three villages, he said in the mean-time share a clinic, Kgatadimo CJSS and a kgotla.

Regarding Mmadinare Sub-district, he said more services should be brought closer to the people because accessing services at Bobonong was too far. He argued that Mmadinare village was big as such in need of storm water drainage, bus rank and taxis.

MP for Serowe South, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi said the policy of one vehicle per village was not implemented in some villages in her constituency because of shortage of vehicles.

She also raised concern about shortage of classrooms and teachers accommodation at Sehunou Primary School, attributing this to the transfer of students and teachers from Motshegaletau to Sehunou.

Dr Venson-Moitoi told Parliament that this had resulted in shortage of classrooms and teachers’ houses whilst Motshegaletau Primary School had abundant facilities. MP for Gaborone West South, Mr Botsalo Ntuane complained about non-functioning streetlights and traffic lights as well as potholes in Gaborone.

He said Gaborone was the capital city and as such should be given special status and recognition, adding that government should draw Gaborone rehabilitation programme and commit funding to various public works.

He also said there was need to effect necessary changes by appointing executive mayors and detach those positions from politics. On street vendors, he said there should be reconciliation between ministries of Trade and Industry and Local Government and Rural Development, adding that harassment of street vendors should come to an end.

He said street vendors should be allowed to operate because there are no employment opportunities. MP for Francistown South Mr Wynter Mmolotsi expressed his unhappiness with the ministry because Francistown City is still lagging behind in terms of development.

He complained that Francistown City Council has come up with a master plan which requires about P4 million to be financed but to date the council has not been allocated funds to implement that master plan.Mr Mmolotsi accused the ministry of failing the people of Francistown saying that internal roads are in a bad state and nothing was being done about the storm water drainage.

He said there was need to construct classrooms at Phatsimo and Moremogolo primary schools. For his part, MP for Kgatleng East Mr Isaac Mabiletsa said Batswana deserve better programmes than Ipelegeng. He however gave a green light to the backlog eradication saying that it was going well in his area.

He raised concern about the state of Mochudi/Malotwana road saying that it was newly constructed but it is already in a bad state. MP for Kanye North, Mr Kentse Rammidi called for decentralisation of sub districts so that they make their own decisions.

In addition, he said the ministry should consider building computer rooms in primary schools and implement storm water drainage in Kanye. MP for Letlhakeng East, Mr Liakat Kablay thanked the minister for the construction of roads at Letlhakeng and appreciated a bakery built through the poverty eradication programme at Diphuduhudu.

He also requested the minister to consider establishing a service centre in Ngware as well as build more classrooms and ablution blocks at Mmantshwabisi primary school. MP for Kweneng South East, Mr Mmoloki Raletobana raised concern over the state of roads in Gabane, Mmopane and other surrounding villages, attributing this to a high population. The ministry should consider improving the state of the roads, he added.

MP for Kgalagadi North, Mr Phillip Khwae commended Hukuntsi Sub District for the job well done in bringing sevices to the people of Kgalagadi. He however raised concern over the Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) saying that the council has not been allocated funds to undertake this programme for the past two years. He called for the fast tracking of the programme in his area.

MP for Tonota North, Mr Fidelis Molao said he has the problem with supporting the budget because backlog eradication is not going to benefit any school in his area. He said there was need for construction of more classrooms at Borolong primary school because more than six classes are taught outside. He also complained of poor internal roads at Mathangwane and Chadibe.

MP for Bobirwa, Mr Shaw Kgathi called for the upgrading of Gobojango kgotla and maintenance of internal roads in Bobirwa. He also complained about lack of a bus rank and internal roads in Bobirwa.

In addition, he requested the minister to consider increasing Village Development Committee members’ allowances. MP for Tati West, Mr Charles Tibone called for the establishment of a sub district at North East District saying that it is the only district without a sub district.

He said the ministry should come up with a robust measure to generate income for councils so that they undertake some projects without having to rely on funds allocated by the ministry.

Mr Tibone requested for the upgrading of Patayamatebele School into a fully-fledged school. He also called for an accelerated rural development programme. Ends