Africa-Press – Botswana. Matsiloje residents have pleaded for maintenance of the Francistown-Matsiloje road, which links Botswana and Zimbabwe.
The plea was made by Kgosi Eric Moipolai of Matsiloje on behalf of residents at a kgotla meeting addressed by Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe on Tuesday.
Kgosi Moipolai said the road was a run-down and remained a death trap to motorists, hence the urgent need to repair it.
“If the road is left unattended there will be more accidents.
I request that when road maintenance is done, it should include tarring the gravel part that extended to the border gate as per the original scope,” he said.
He indicated that the gravel road, which he said was rutted, was used by heavy laden vehicles in transit, resulting in too much dust, adding that an agreement was however made to water spray the road pro tem to reduce the dust.
On other issues, Kgosi Moipolai pleaded for establishment of a police post in the village, saying while a plot has been secured for the project, another plot was availed tentatively for the said facility while awaiting construction of police station.”
Kgosi Moipolai was also of the view that the proximity of the newly opened Mupani Gold Mine near the village was a challenge owing to frequent blasting, which he said affected some houses.
“Since the mine started operating, residents are always terrified as blasting is done without notice.
Blasting is not only loud and cause a lot of dust but it also cracks some houses,” he said.
However, he said mining authorities had been consulted and had since been going around the village informing residents about blasting times.
He therefore remained hopeful that the situation would return to normalcy.
For his part, Minister Letsholathebe told residents that funds had been increased for maintenance of Matsiloje-Robelela road.
He also told them that toll gates would be erected along A1 Road, adding an alternative route would however be constructed to cater for those who did not want to use the toll gates.
Conversely, Dr Letsholathebe commended residents for assisting in the drive to control Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and for adhering to protocols at veterinary gates, which included restrictions on crossing with products from cloven-hooved animals in Zone 6b even though their area was not affected.
On shortage of water, the minister told them that Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) had recently started the Francistown Water Master Plan that would also supply Matshelagabedi, Matsiloje and Matopi villages.
He further told residents about plans to address issues of problematic animals, particularly elephants.
Residents were also updated on the transfer duty and the Value Added Tax amendment bills, which were debated during the just ended Parliament sitting and awaiting approval.
Other concerns raised by some residents included delays in assisting patients at the local clinic, pupils who walked long distances to school, among others.
They further requested for another observation room and an additional water system ablution block at the clinic.
Nevertheless, some residents commended First Lady Neo Masisi for her visit to Matsiloje Junior Secondary School, as well as availability of Wi-Fi at the village clinic, primary school and kgotla, including 70 chairs donated by class of 1970 for use by old age pensioners.
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