06 Jun 2016

Member of Parliament for Takatokwane Constituency, Mr Ngaka Ngaka has urged residents to take shortage of accommodation for civil servants to their advantage and construct houses to rent out as a way to earn a living.

Addressing kgotla meetings in Tshwaane and Khekhenye last week, Mr Ngaka said even though government intended to provide accommodation for civil servants across country, such would never be enough.

Thus, he encouraged residents to assist by constructing houses to lease out to government.He added that government’s wish was to see money going into the hands of Batswana, and therefore would fully support those who constructed to lease.

Again, he advised those who wanted to pursue the idea to liaise with the Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) on requirements for standard house plans.He also informed them that in areas where there was no power connection, solar can be used to power such houses.

Mr Ngaka also encouraged constituents not to despair if their area was not given much projects under the first year of the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) because it still had two more years to run.

The MP was responding after residents from various villages around his constituency complained of shortage of accommodation for civil servants, which they said often led to them developing cold feet in working in their areas.

In Tshwaane, the Village Development Committee (VDC) secretary, Mr Utlwanang Lesego appreciated some of the projects they had been given in their village, which included destitute houses out of which 12 had already been handed to beneficiaries while the remaining three were complete and awaiting handing over.

Mr Lesego said water situation in their village had also improved, save for the borehole allocated for watering their cattle.He also appreciated the Miss RADP pageant, but requested for more life skills support for contestants.

He said their village also faced shortage of office space for civil servants and classrooms at primary school, as well as lack of electricity.

In Khekhenye, residents called for increase of solar panels at the local primary school because the existing ones were not enough to provide the necessary power.They also requested that their clinical services be moved back to the Letlhakeng sub district from Kgalagadi.

Mr Ngaka was on a tour of his constituency to inform residents among others, about ESP and preparations for the BOT50 celebrations as well as the roving torch. ENDS