Africa-Press – Botswana. Farmers who received compensation on the ongoing exercise to eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Zone 6 have been advised to put the money in good use.
“It will be disappointing if you could mis-use your reimbursement”, said Tati East MP, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe, when addressing kgotla meetings in various wards in Tati Siding on Wednesday.
He advised farmers to use the money on tangible assets.
Dr Letsholathebe, also the Minister of Education and Skills Development, told residents that investing in education should be a priority for every Motswana.
He said education was a lifelong currency and Batswana should focus on it especially more on skills development.
He explained that it was against this backdrop that vocational education and training was considered a priority in modern day learning.
“This is because it provides learners with essential skills enhancing their employability, supporting their personal development and encouraging active citizenship.”
Dr Letsholathebe further observed that the name ‘brigade’ was attached to a certain stigma and suggested that it should be changed to ‘technical wing’.
“Most people think that brigades are a dumping site for failures, therefore changing the name will give it a positive understanding,” he said.
Still on education, Dr Letsholathebe said junior secondary schools in the North East District continued to be maintained through operation ‘Mbizi or Letsema’ to revive the spirit of self-reliance in the education sector.
He told residents that the first school to benefit was Shanganani Junior Secondary School in Tsamaya followed by Batanani in Mapoka. The next school to benefit, he said, would be Matsiloje Junior Secondary School which would be done with the assistance of Botswana Savings Bank (BSB) which pledged P100 000.
At Newstance East ward, residents complained of shortage of drugs at the clinic and further requested for a mobile clinic.
They also requested for the construction of a kgotla shelter, a toilet at the kgotla, maintenance of street lights and storm water drainage.
They told the MP that unemployment, especially amongst the youth, was high and they also welcomed the construction of a post office in their village.
In his remarks, Kgosi Tshepo Mokalake of Newstance East told the MP that crime was increasing at an alarming rate due to the village’s proximity to Francistown.
He said the use of illicit drugs amongst the youth was escalating and requested government to increase police officers in the village.
Residents welcomed the idea by their MP to address kgotla meetings in wards instead of the main kgotla as it was time saving.
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