25 Apr 2024

Residents of Kubung in the Thamaga constituency have been urged to take advantage of government programmes to improve their lives.

Speaking in a kgotla meeting held at the village on Wednesday, area MP Mr Palelo Motaosane said programmes like the Chema Chema Fund, Temo Letlotlo and Thuo Letlotlo were meant to benefit Batswana.

Funded to the tune of P500 million, the Chema Chema Fund offers the informal sector an opportunity to either start expand existing businesses or start new ones by offering loans of up to P50 000.

Through Temo Letlotlo and Thuo Letlotlo, government aims at acquiring food security as well as reducing the food import bill. MP Motaosane said the herdsmen should also use Thuo Letlotlo to take care of their own livestock, adding that the country was faced with serious shortage of small livestock.

He explained that following the introduction of Temo Letlotlo, the Ministry of Agriculture’s budget for the current financial year was increased as additional posts of agriculture demonstrators were required as well as more vehicles had to be purchased.

Meanwhile the MP said the Thamaga-Kubung road would be developed through the Development Manager Model, adding that the project was expected to begin in June this year.

He said he was certain about it since funding has been allocated adding the DM model has been preferred over the past project development one as it resulted with cost over runs and projects were not completed on time.

Talking about the Thamaga-Molepolole road, the MP accused the Ministry of Transport and Public Works for their failure to facilitate the contractor.

“The scope was changed after the contract was awarded and the ministry has not assisted the contractor as additional funds were needed,” he said.  He said the contractor has completed 85 per cent of the project but was told the remaining portion required reconstruction and not resurfacing.

“They told the contractor to resurface the portion but are not willing to take liability for it,” the MP said and he was visibly agitated that officers from the Roads department had failed to attend his meeting to address concerns from Kubung residents.

MP Motaosane further said the ministry officials failed to explain how a project valued at about P70 million could be awarded to a company that had quoted P56 million. “They had to explain the issue over the ‘lowest bidder’ because they knew the total project cost.  Even after awarding the tender, they failed to facilitate him,” he said. The MP also briefed the residents about the past Budget Session and urged them to give him ideas for the winter session where the Constitution Amendment Bill will be discussed.

Kgosi Boitshwarelo Mabutlwane urged the MP to present a Bill that a man should marry a girl who he impregnates saying the community was worried by the increasing numbers of single mothers who have been abandoned by the fathers of the children.

MP Motaosane welcomed the decision saying the law should be used to take action against such men who run away from their responsibilities.  The MP has meanwhile said amongst the items to be discussed in the Constitution Amendment Bill is the increase in the number of Specially Elected MPs from six to 10. The other one is the usage of mother languages in schools. ENDS