Africa-Press – Botswana. Matlapana community has been lauded for reviving the spirit of volunteerism and self-reliance to complement government efforts by contributing towards community projects.
Through unity and cooperation, the community has come up with an initiative dubbed, motho le motho kgomo, which aims to raise funds to construct a satellite police station in their area in a bid to bring services closer and curb the escalating criminal activities.
The envisaged project is estimated to cost P18 million and the initiative followed the community’s engagement with Botswana Police Service’ management, who had given them their blessings to construct such project.
The North West District leadership praised villagers during a meeting to appraise them about the proposed project and to seek support.
They appreciated the community’s efforts and assured them of full support, pointing out that in other villages the spirit was slowly fading away even though it used to work wonders as far as project implementation was concerned.
“Self-reliance is one of the foundational principles that have shaped the country over the years in terms of driving sustainable developments, but it is slowly fading away. However, I am pleased to see some communities reviving it,” said the district commissioner, Mr Thabang Waloka.
He appreciated Matlapana community for their efforts of meeting government halfway in the development agenda, saying government could not do everything at once due to limited resources.
He pledged his support and advised the community to open an account in which well wishers and potential sponsors could contribute for the success of the project.
The local councillor, Mr Ntlogelang Kebonyekgotla also praised Matlapana community for a brilliant initiative, which he said would indeed bear fruit and benefit the community.
He noted that due to financial constraints, government sometimes was unable to deliver some desired services and projects on time and ‘it is heart-warming to see the community taking a bold step to venture into a sustainable project like a police satellite station”.
The secretary of the committee formed to spearhead the initiative, Ms Ratanang Tshekiso informed the meeting that the initiative was a brainchild of Kgosi Tshupegetso Bontsibokae of Matlapana, who successfully sold the idea to the nine wards.
She said the community was concerned about the escalating number of criminal activities and believed that constructing their own satellite police station would help reduce the incidents.
She disclosed that the plan was to start the ball rolling in June, with the project estimated to be completed in December next year.
She appealed to the business community and the public at large to support Matlapana community to achieve the dream, adding that the project would enhance police visibility, coverage and response.
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