26 Nov 2024

Despite its large population, Molepolole is still lagging behind in developments.

Member of Parliament for Molepolole North, Mr Arafat Khan said when debating the State-of-the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. He said because the village had been neglected, it experienced shortage of drinking water, a situation he called governement to  address.

Kweneng Land Board last allocated residential plots in 2006, resulting in a waiting list of around 120 000, Mr Khan said and cited the incapacity of Kgari Sechele Senior School to admit all of Molepolole pupils, leaving some to school at Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School and even as far as Good Hope Senior Secondary School.

Still on the education sector, he said there were about 17 classes in his constituency which were still being taught under a tree, while some classes were having over 50 students.

Mr Khan further said the village was affected by drugs and substance abuse especially the use of Methcathinone or CAT, a situation he attributed to poverty in the village.

The sole police station in the village is old, dilapidated and lacks the basics such as stationery and vehicles, Mr Khan said and pointed that some villages whose population was lesser than that of Molepolole had about two police stations or at least bigger or better stations than that of Molepolole.

He was however, hopeful that the new government would address the challenges the village was grappling with.

Also, the MP implored the government to fight corruption as a matter of urgency, stop all the Development Manager Model projects which he said should benefit locals, and institute lifestyle audits on all former ministers as well as heads of State Owned Enterprises.

Member of Parliament for Maun West, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama for his part, said although he agreed with President Boko on most issues, his worry was lack of timelines.

He said he agreed that anti-corruption agencies should be strengthened but stated that the first step would be to have oversight agencies in the constitution though President Boko did not indicate plans for constitutional review in his SONA speech.

Also, Mr Hikuama said the President talked about declining birth rates in the country and the need to address factors leading to the problem.

Child welfare structures should be strengthened and address the education system which contributes to the problem as people would choose to have a smaller number considering education expenses, he said.

Regarding the introduction of the national health insurance scheme, Mr Hikuama said what was more important was an accessible health sector where nurses, doctors, medicines and ambulances were available to the public. ENDS