MPs under pressure, no Covid19 excuses

Letlhakeng/Lephephe residents demand good roads

Kanye constituents want a sports complex

BAKANG TIRO

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

The upcoming Parliament meeting will be not be an easy one for MPs of different constituencies as the electorates have given them tough tasks to deliver on developments or risk kissing parliament goodbye.

MPs are expected to up their game and advocate for their constituencies developments without fail. More interestingly, as most of the parties are preparing for primary elections next year, ahead of 2024 general elections, the MPs are under pressure to advocate for developments seriously.

After Parliament went for a break in December 2021, the MPs began the year with Kgotla meetings across their constituencies sharing their roadmap as well as their achievements since assuming office.

During the various Kgotla consultations, some of the MPs have been brought to task by voters over some pertinent development matters that have earmarked either through national development plans.

Palapye Hospital

MP for Palapye Onneetse Ramogapi has been given a litmus assignment by his electorates as he returns to parliament demanding that he advocate for the building of hospital as a key priority.

Palapye as one of the economic hubs in the central district has no fully fledged health hospital. It is to this reason that the residents have urged Ramogapi with no fail to advocate for hospital.

In an interview on Thursday, the outspoken Ramogapi said the hospital dominated rounds of his consultations with constituents in different Kgotla meetings that he has been addressing.

“I am also equally worried that Palapye hospital is pending although it has been proposed to be constructed in the previous National Development Plans (NDPs). Also, internal roads have been one of the issues that Palapye residents asked for during our consultations,” Ramogapi added.

 Letlhakeng- Lephephe roads

Roads has been a debatable area of assignment for Letlhakeng- Lephephe MP Liakat Kablay. Kablay during his response to the State of Nation Address (SONA) reiterated that roads should be upgraded in his constituency, also indicating that they have been on the pipeline for a long time.

In an interview on Friday, Kablay said poor internal roads in his constituency is a big major area of concern for his constituents, adding that the recent have rains completely destroyed the roads.

“I think that cabinet ministers have been not interested into addressing the issue of roads in my constituency. I am very disappointed that our plight is not listened although I have proposed for roads developments in my constituency for 12 years now. I will fight for proper roads,” he added.

Kanye Stadium pending

Residents from both Kanye North and South constituencies respectively are eagerly looking forward to hear their MPs Thapelo Letsholo and Dr Lemogang Kwape to address the stadium.

Kanye stadium has been under the pipeline for about 20 years but it remains far-fetched dream.

The stadium talk nearly came to live during the era of former MP for Kanye North Patrick Ralotsia.

Kanye Stadium was included amongst the 10 villages where the government had to build 10 mini stadiums but the village lagged behind in identifying the land for construction of stadium.

The Bangwaketse administrative capital city, Kanye is one of the big villages that is lagging behind without a sport complex as compared to its counterparts being Serowe, Molepolole and Maun too.

Okavango oil fracking

Kenny Kapinga, MP for Okavango is under from the community of Okavango region which is totally against any potential plans of oil fracking in one of the wealthiest part of Okavango delta.

Kapinga has been vocal in parliament raising issues with the ministers responsible for energy, water and tourism over the potential negative impacts that oil exploration can have on delta.

Community leadership being Dikgosi and councillors have also spoken strongly against fracking.

At the next parliament, the community expects Kapinga to press further on the oil fracking.

Balete Kgale farm

The MP for Ramotswa Lefoko Moagi’s political career is hanging on the balance at the moment owing to the long outstanding battle between government and Balete over Kgale Forest Hill 9-ko farm.

Last year on May, the maverick Balete Paramount Chief Kgosi Mosadi Seboko led her tribe to a resounding victory against the Malete Landboard in a land mark court case for the farm battle.

Gaborone High Court Judge Gabriel Komboni delivering the judgment last year said the land belongs to Balete not the land board stressing that he is guided by Tribal Act and Tribal Territories Act.

With Malete Landboard appealing the last year Balete victory, the MP Moagi is under pressure from the residents to convince his superiors at government to withdraw from demanding land.

Observers indicate that the land tussle between government and Balete will severely impact Moagi’s chances of getting second term in parliament, should government wins the land from the Balete.

Kgosi Seboko and her tribe consistently demand answers from Moagi regarding to over why the government through the Malete Landboard is seriously interested in getting the land title deed.