Africa-Press – Botswana. Tender for construction of a road connecting Semotswane, Mandunyane, Shashe Mooke, Borolong, Chadibe and Mathangwane will be awarded soon.
Briefing the leadership of the six villages on Tuesday, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale, said the road would be upgraded to bitumen standard.
Mr Molale said the bypass would reduce congestion on the Tonota-Francistown and Mathangwane highway, adding that access roads to Makobo and Natale would also be provided.
He explained that the construction of the road was one of the seven earmarked road projects.
The other projects, he said, were Tutume-Maitengwe, Dzoroga-Nata, Kokotsha-Tsabong, Mogoditshane-Mmankgodi and Nokaneng-Gumare.
Minister Molale said P3 billion had been secured for the projects whose commencement was delayed buy court cases.
He said delays in the commencement of projects affected the economy.
Road projects, the minister said, played a major role in the economic development of any country hence the need to fast track implementation.
For his part, Tonota MP, Mr Pono Moatlhodi, said the project had been included in the Transition National Development Plan.
He said the road would help improve the residents’ living standards through employment creation.
Mr Moatlhodi, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, appealed to government to include the interchange at Semotswane junction.He informed the leadership of the six villages that government had taken a decision to also construct a primary hospital in Tonota.
In addition, two primary schools would be built in Tonota West and Shashe Mooke.
Shashe West MP and Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao commended government for undertaking the road project.
He said the road would change lives of people in the affected villages.
He said the road infrastructure provided economic value as they provided the affected areas easy access to markets.
In addition, Mr Molao explained that the construction of the road would speed up the development of commercial and industrial plots in the greater Francistown planning area that included Mathangwane, Borolong, Chadibe and Shashe Mooke.
He also explained that the road would positively help grow the taxi industry and the informal sector, amongst others.
Mr Molao indicated that most people whose property had been affected by the construction of the road had been compensated.
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