16 Mar 2014

Kgosi Rebecca Banika of Pandamatenga has complained about shortage of basic necessities such as office chairs and stationery in her kgotla, adding that water had also been disconnected.

“We have been warned that electricity will also be cut soon in our premises.

We have been told that there is no money, how can we lack money to pay for such basic things?” .

She said presenting her grievances to the Assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning Mr Vincent Seretse in a kgotla meeting recently.

Kgosi Banika also complained about the embarrassment of having to share a two-seater vehicle with other dikgosi from other villages crammed at the back of the vehicle. “Imagine the five of us in a two-seater vehicle plus a driver,” she said asking the assistant minister if vehicles that had been boarded should not be replaced.

Mr Seretse responded by saying transport was a big challenge to government across the country but noted any boarded vehicle must be replaced.

Regarding office furniture and stationery, Mr Seretse said the Department of Tribal Administration must have a budget.

For such items and emphasised it would be improper for a government office not to have water as there was money to pay for such utilities.

Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson, Ms Nkgopolang Jonathan said the other challenge in Pandamatenga was crime.

She said a group of criminals went around the village stealing diesel.

As a result of this, there was shortage of water in some parts of the village.

On other issues, one of the residents, Mr Tengenyane Tuelo commended the white community in Pandamatenga for taking part in the village’s developments including their participation in the VDC.

He urged other white communities in neighbouring villages to emulate them.

Another resident complained that Pandamatenga played a big role in the country’s economy yet it remained one of the most under-developed villages in the country.

Regarding poverty eradication, she said the failure of some poverty eradication projects did not mean the whole initiative had failed. ENDS