Africa-Press – Botswana. There are about 10 000 illegal, immigrants in Francistown. Many of them are harboured by citizens.
This, says, Francistown South MP Mr Wynter Mmolotsi is a recipe for disaster in a country already grappling with increasing criminal activity.
Mr Mmolotsi, who was addressing a kgotla meeting at Phillip Matante East in Block 4 on Wednesday, warned residents that some of the illegal immigrants were members of big syndicates involved in illegal gold mining in some parts of the city and surrounding.
The illegal immigrants did not solely pose a threat to the country’s economy but were also a danger to security agents as they used sophisticated equipment in illegal operations.
On other issues, Mr Mmolotsi urged parents to play an active role in the education of their children and advise them to desist from roaming the streets as they could be an easy target to criminals.
He condemned the use of drugs and other illicit substances by school going children, adding some learners had been turned into drug peddlers.
He said in most cases the children were selling on behalf of some adult.
Mr Mmolotsi said CAT was one of the most commonly used illicit drugs in Botswana due to its highly addictive composition, and that many children were now addicted to it.
The MP’s comments followed a complaint by Ward Development Committee (WDC) Chairperson, Ms Dimakatso Motlokwa who decried illegal mining of gold in some areas surrounding Francistown.
Ms Motlokwa also registered a concern about the ongoing power cuts and dysfunctional street lights in their ward, which created a safe haven for criminals.
Phase 4 Court President, Kgosi Gunny Moses complained of drug and substance abuse in addition to increasing cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and noise pollution in Francistown South constituency.
The Legislator also briefed residents about some bills that were passed in the budget parliamentary session that included Value Added Tax Amendment Bill and the Independent Electoral Commission Amendment Act.
He said Integrated Support Programme For Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) would be replaced by another scheme, Temo Letlotlo, which was an Agricultural scheme aimed at ensuring food security.
He informed residents that sanitary pads, private medical bills and condoms had been zero rated because they were regarded as daily essential.
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