Africa-Press – Botswana. The importation of 162 breeding cattle from the United States of America (USA) is an important milestone in Botswana’s effort to instigate a breakthrough in quality of animal breeds genetics.
Addressing Kgotla meetings at Kgari and Mapoka, Tati West MP, Mr Simon Moabi said it was not the first time for Botswana to introduce new breeds, adding that in 1964 Botswana imported Brahman and Limousine breeds from abroad.
He said the imported live cattle breeds would be used for semen and embryo production.
Mr Moabi said it had been expensive for the country to import semen, adding that the arrival of the quality cattle breeds was going to ascertain production of quality and valuable products locally.
“A question may arise asking why government went to purchase cattle instead of drugs and medicine at an exorbitant amount,” he said adding that the response would be that every ministry had its share of funds during budget allocation to meet its requirements.
He also pointed out that government did not take money from the Ministry of Health but used a different allocation from the relevant ministry to purchase such. MP Moabi condemned some health officials for their involvement in stealing drugs and medicines.
Such a practice defeated government’s efforts of bringing health services to the people.
Newly-elected Councillor for Mapoka /Nlaphkhwane /Kgari, Mr Nabulani Lenyatso said: “If government fails to buy drugs for the nation, who would look after those cattle when everyone had been wiped off by sickness?”
Ms Simano John, a resident, wanted to know if Kgari Primary School had a bank account as parents had contributed funds towards the Standard 7 farewell party in 2020 but it was never celebrated.
“We wrote a letter to the school management and ultimately to Kgosi but to no avail, and in this regard, we want to know how the funds were administered,” she said. Ms John complained about tenders to supply vegetable, saying they were being awarded to civil servants. She further raised a concern that crime was high and had affected Batanani junior school, and called for the number of night watchmen to be increased to four.
Another resident, Ms Gloria Masalila, requested that cattle bought from the USA be distributed evenly across the country for all to benefit.
Residents also complained that A3 highway had turned into a death trap and requested that the road be given special attention in the next Parliament sitting.
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