Africa-Press – Botswana. Member of Parliament for Tonota, Mr Pono Moatlhodi, has expressed his commitment to tackling the issue of drug use among children.
Addressing a kgotla meeting in Tonota on Thursday, Mr Moatlhodi noted that pupils were dropping out of school and that their academic performance was declining, attributing such to increasing drug use.
In order to combat the growing drug problem in Tonota, Mr Moatlhodi said he would request that the police iassign a dedicated team of officers to the village.
He said the team would focus on conducting raids to identify and apprehend those responsible for the sale and distribution of drugs.
In a shocking incident, Mr Moatlhodi revealed that eight pupils at Shashe River School were caught smoking dagga inside the dormitory ceiling.
“This is a clear sign that there is a serious problem with our children and lawlessness in Tonota.
Not only is this kind of behaviour extremely dangerous, it also sets a terrible example for other young people in the community,” he added.
He said the leadership must take a firm stand against this kind of activity and make sure that it does not go unpunished. He urged the community to come together and support the efforts of the police in combating the problem.
Mr Moatlhodi also stated that he would work to improve access to education and support programmes for the youth in the area, and he urged parents and community members to take an active role in the education of the children.
Mr Moatlhodi commended Madisakwana Primary School in Tonota for achieving a 94.8 per cent pass in the 2023 Primary School Leaving Examinations.
“It is heartening to see the hard work and dedication of the students and staff at the school paying off, and I hope that other schools in Tonota will follow their lead.
I also want to congratulate Masedi and Kgosi Sekoko primary schools for their high pass rates. I am proud of the progress being made in Tonota, and I look forward to seeing even more success in the future,” he added.
In an effort to encourage land development, Mr Moatlhodi directed the Tonota Sub-land Board to repossess all undeveloped, unoccupied and deserted homes/plots, which have been there for more than 15 years.
“These plots are taking valuable space and I believe it is time to put an end to the practice of holding on to plots for speculation purposes, and to ensure that those who are interested in developing the land have the opportunity to do so,” he said.
Mr Moatlhodi pointed out that over 110 000 people in Tonota are currently on the waiting list for land allocation, and the failure of some plot owners to develop them was exacerbating the problem.
“These individuals are taking up valuable land while others who truly need it are left waiting. I am determined to make sure that those who are genuinely interested in developing the land have the opportunity to do so, and that we can end the unfair practice of land speculation,” said Mr Moatlhodi.
The chairperson of the Village Development Committee (VDC), Mr Gabotwesepe Keletso raised the alarm about severe shortage of school furniture and sanitation facilities. He said in some classrooms, pupils were forced to share chairs, while others have to sit on the floor.
He also highlighted shortage of toilets, saying each school with over 900 pupils had only two toilets.
In addition to the shortage of furniture and sanitation facilities, the VDC chairperson also called for an increase in the allowances for VDC members, and for the umbrella
VDC chairperson to be given an ex-officio seat on the Tonota District Council.
The chairperson believes that this would allow VDC members to better advocate the needs of their communities and to ensure that government resources were allocated appropriately.
He said such would help to improve service delivery and quality of life in rural areas.
Mr Keletso also reiterated the concern about the number of abandoned homes that had become sanctuaries for criminals.
He said such homes, with their overgrown vegetation and dilapidated structures, were providing cover for illegal activity and were a danger to the community.
The VDC chairperson also highlighted the need for a dental wing at the local clinic, noting that it was too expensive for people to travel to Francistown for dental care.
He said having such a service available locally would be of benefit to the community, especially for those who could not to afford the cost of travelling to Francistown.
Mr Keletso emphasised that access to quality healthcare was a basic right for all citizens, and that government should do everything in its power to ensure that such a right was upheld.
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