13 Jan 2013

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi has said there is need for Batswana and government to come up with ways that could provide permanent employment opportunities.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Ikageleng, Mr Mmolotsi said according to last year's State-of-the-Nation Address, government will spend P530 million on the Ipelegeng programme. However, he said the programme only offered temporary relief to the unemployed.

Mr Mmolotsi said the unemployment challenge in the country called on every stakeholder to critically think of ways in which the P530 million could be used to create permanent job opportunities.

He said although he agreed that P400 monthly allowance made a difference in people’s lives, he felt that the revenue could be effectively used in other ways rather than the Ipelegeng programme.

Mr Mmolotsi said with the projection that diamond revenue would decline by 2020, there was need for diversification in order to prevent the country from getting into a crisis.

He informed residents that some of the back-to-school applicants, who are below the age of 35 years, will be sponsored at institutions such as BOCODOL.

The Francistown South MP advised applicants that they should not expect to be placed at the same institution they studied in when they dropped out, as the availability of vacancies will determine where they would be placed. The Ward Development Committee (WDC) secretary, Mr Chester Ngubevana lamented that two classrooms in Phase Four Primary School were not used because they were infested with bats.

He also said the school’s drainage system was problematic and needed to be attended to frequently. 

Mr Ngubevana also said,  due to the recent rains, grass had germinated in schools, and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) was facing challenges because children were not allowed to weed while Ipelegeng workers were not allowed to assist in schools.

Still on matters pertaining to education, the WDC secretary complained that Form One students were admitted at schools that were far from their homes.

Ms Violet Thaga requested government to consider allowing traditional beer traders to continue selling in their homes until proper places werebuilt.

She said with their children admitted at far away schools, they were likely to miss classes as they would not afford transport fares.

Ms Pabalelo Samuel said the Public Health Bill was a welcome legislation, calling on people to regard HIV/AIDS just like any other disease. She said people should not conceal their status.

Mr Gofamodimo Tsotsopane said although he welcomed the bill, people should not be forced to test for HIV if they did not suffer from any diseases associated with the virus.

Mr Modisaotsile Molosi suggested that people should be convinced to test so that they could be in a better position to prepare themselves psychologically for the outcome.

 In response, MP Mmolotsi said he wouls take up the issue of Form One admissions with the North East regional education office, and implored parents to also make arrangements to see if their children could change places at schools.

He advised the WDC to write to the Ipelegeng coordinator to request for the engagement of their workers in clearing grass in schools.

Mr Mmolotsi promised to take up the issue of bats and the drainage system with relevant authorities. ENDS