10 Jul 2013

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele says government has no intentions to frustrate any tribe as far as development is concerned.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Mmankgodi following a letter of complaint to the Office of the President over the demarcation exercise and the alleged unfair equitable distribution of resources on June 5, Mr Siele said the Delimitation Commission decision was critical and could not be dealt with until after 10 years.

He said the distribution of resources was done under the district development plans and projects were prioritised hence some areas would be considered first. Residents complained on the alignment of their parliamentary boundaries where Ramaphate settlement was moved from Mmankgodi to fall under Thamaga constituency.

Kgosi Letlole Thobega reiterated that there was unfair treatment regarding the demarcation of areas and also unfair equitable distribution of resources, adding Mmankgodi was lagging behind in terms of development. 

The VDC chairperson, Mr Jerry Tau said it was disheartening to realise that Mmankgodi area had been sidelined for long, adding that demarcation of boundaries had never favoured them.  In previous exercises, he said, Ledumadumane was separated from Mmankgodi which was a serious blow to the community as they relied on it for services. 

They said making Ramaphate settlement fall under Thamaga area was also unfair because it had important features such as land that would benefit them.  Minister Siele, who is also the  Ngwaketse South MP, said national development had also been negatively affected by the global economic situation.

He said the issue of Greater Gaborone was not only a problem peculiar to Mmankgodi area but also affected Tlokweng, Ramotswa and Kgatleng. 

 “Constitutional matters are complex issues. As long as the decisions taken was guided by the constitution, it will be difficult for either the President or the government to challenge it even if there were blunders detected unless after 10 years,” he said.

One resident, Mr Eric Sethebe said the minister’s explanation was not convincing arguing that the move by the delimitation was aimed at punishing them. End