18 May 2014

Then President, Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, the Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe and members of the Botswana Economic Advisory Council toured some projects in the Selebi Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) region on May 15.

The projects included Dikgatlhong Dam, Letsibogo Dam, Mmadinare Fish Hatchery and the Retsweletse Horticulture project.

While at Dikgatlhong Dam, which is in the vicinity of Robelela, Dr Kedikilwe told President Khama that the gravel road that linked Selebi Phikwe to Francistown via Matsiloje, Matopi, Robelela and Mmadinare needed to be upgraded into a tarred road.

Dr Kedilikwe, who is also Mmadinare MP, said the route had great potential to boost economic activities in the region and if upgraded into bitumen, the Selebi Phikwe region could become an economic hub.

He said the route that passed through Robelela could be used to transport mineral ores from Tati Nickel Mine in Matsiloje and other mines in the north to Selebi Phikwe for smelting at the BCL Mine as the route was shorter, less costly and convenient than the A1 road that passed through Serule.

Also, he noted that tourism in the area could be boosted as tourists from up north and Zimbabwe intending to visit game reserves in the Bobirwa region such as Mashatu Game Reserve could use the same route.

Furthermore, he noted that people using the Pont Drift, Platjaan and Martins Drift border gates from South Africa enroute to northern parts of Botswana and Zimbabwe could also use the Mmadinare- Robelela via Matsiloje to Francistown route which could also reduce traffic congestion along the A1 road. “The route if upgraded could make Selebi Phikwe or SPEDU region an economic hub and promote tourism in the area,” he said.

When President Khama visited the Fish Hatchery Project in Mmadinare, the Minister of Environment Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama told him that the project was not doing well because it needed technical expertise.

Mr Khama also explained that fish hatchery incubator was in poor state due to insufficient funds to maintain it. He said the ministry had resorted to engage in a private partnership to run the facility.

He said a notice for expression of interest to engage in the project had been sent out and was expecting an individual or organisation to be running the project in the near future.

President Khama and his delegation also visited Letsibogo Dam, which has a water holding capacity of 100 million cubic meters. Currently the dam is 93 per cent full. They also went to Retsweletse Farmers Association horticulture project located just outside Selebi Phikwe before the Mmadinare turn off.

Members of the association made requests such as having their fields being connected with electricity to upgrade their farming. They also acknowledged government for the introducing ISPAAD programme but requested that horticulture be considered or to be included in the programme.

For his part, President Khama noted that there was a dispensation for horticulture farmers through the ministry of agriculture where farmers were assisted.

He also stated that because the connection of fields and farms to the grid was expensive, solar power was the best and alternative way to provide power to such places.

He said government was still looking into the issue on how to assist Batswana with solar power and while still in process of doing so, people with the means should themselves could connect solar power to upgrade their projects. ENDS