Africa-Press – Botswana. From time immemorial Jwaneng has been haunted by squatters who come from different areas across the country to settle around the township planning area. Most of these people come with expectations to eke a living from any opportunities that may arise from the mining town, but due to exorbitant rentals and high unemployment, they end up erecting temporary structures for their families.
From the biggest squatter camp to ever emerge, Senthumole, to Nagamphabatho and many others surrounding the township, it is without doubt that these informal settlements are not only an eyesore, but are also a health hazard to the inhabitants.
In the absence of basic services such as potable water and ablution blocks, among others, the families fetch water with small containers from nearby houses in the township while they mostly use the bush for sewer disposal.
In an endeavour to preserve the image of the town, efforts have been made in the past, including amicable engagements with all stakeholders and evictions.
In the last eviction undertaken in 2015, Jwaneng Town Council (JTC) in collaboration with other local authorities to transport squatters and their properties back to their respective villages.
However, fast forward to eight years later, the dynamics have also added a twist with an increased number of illegal farms emerging around.
Subsequently, the Jwaneng Urban Development Committee recently moved to recommend for yet another eviction for all the squatters within the township planning area and its peripheries.
Giving an overview of their findings, a member of the squatter monitoring task force, Mr Lemmy Maphanyane indicated that their recent monitoring exercise established that over 100 people lived in various informal settlements around the township planning area.
He further noted that while most of them were a result of rural-urban migration in pursuit of better livelihoods, only a few had jobs, while the majority were either unemployed or engaged in temporary jobs such as Ipelegeng.
Their structures were also found to be unfit for human habitation, especially for families with children. Additionally, he revealed that the over 66 illegal cattle posts found in the outskirts of the township hindered efforts by the JTC to keep livestock away from the town.
“The closest are just over one kilometre from the township built-up area perimeter fence and therefore thwart efforts by council to keep cattle out of the township,” he said.
For a town that has embarked on a journey to redeem its image through the environmental regeneration strategy and sparkle like diamonds initiatives, among others, the absence of sewerage and sanitation services at the squatter camps have been identified as a hindrance to such efforts. Furthermore, the living arrangements in the informal settlements do not resonate with Botswana’s aspirations for her people concerning health and education as espoused in Vision 2036.
While the task force made a recommendation that all squatters be subjected to voluntary eviction and their structures be demolished, it also called on the relevant government departments and other stakeholders to facilitate for availing services such as national identity cards (Omang) needed to access government programmes.
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