04 Apr 2013

The Member of Parliament for Francistown West has informed residents of Botsalano ward in Maipaafela that the alignment of council wards may bring changes to their constituency.  Addressing a kgotla meeting on Tuesday, Mr Tshelang Masisi stated that this could result in the wards being decreased from seven to six.

However, he explained that all the changes would take place after consultation with them.  He therefore, appealed to the residents to attend the consultation meetings, adding that their views and observations would be of great importance to the final decision on the alignment of boundaries.

Meanwhile, residents complained about Botswana Power Corporation, saying prior to the transformation of electricity connections to the prepaid system, the corporation had informed them that there would be an arrangement for clients who had outstanding balances to pay them in installments.

The Ward Development Committee vice chairperson, Ms Rosinah Sethabi said after being disconnected, they were informed to pay 75 per cent or 50 per cent of the outstanding balances before they could be connected again. This, she said, left many homes without power because the majority were having difficulty paying.

She highlighted that most of the residents were unable to come up with the upfront payment required before installing pre-paid metres. Consequently, Ms Sethabi said households headed by orphans and the elderly had been left in the dark.

On other issues, residents informed the MP that they wanted the current ward development committee to be dissolved and a new one elected.

Ms Bathwana Ramabele alleged that the committee practiced nepotism when hiring people for the Ipelegeng programme. She noted that instead of using the raffle to employ people, the hiring now took place in the wee hours of the morning.

She further alleged that most of the people hired in the Ipelegeng programme were those aligned to the campaign teams of aspiring parliamentary candidates in the constituency. This, she noted, had led some people to seek Ipelegeng employment across the river at Itekeng ward in the Area W location.

When responding to their concerns, Mr Masisi said Ipelegeng employment was for every Motswana regardless of political party affiliation, adding that those using the name of the party as requirement for employment were misrepresenting the ruling party, which did not discriminate in its service to citizens.

He advised them that since they were the ones who nominated the WDC committee, they were also the relevant people to resolve it through the town clerk’s office.

He further highlighted that since the Ipelegeng allowance had been increased from P400 to P480, there would be changes in the conditions of work and said every employee would be expected to work a maximum of six hours a day. ENDS