15 Jan 2013

A Resident of  Francistown South constituency has spoken against the decision to suspend the Ipelegeng programme during the months of December to February.

Speaking in a kgotla meeting addressed by the area MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi recently, Ms Kebabonye Modise said the suspension had resulted in the growth of long grass in open spaces in the country’s second city.

She  said long grass was not only an eye sore but also provided a breeding environment for mosquitos.

Ms Modise wondered why the programme was suspended in the city because the residents did not need break to till the land as compared to those in rural areas.

She also complained of the failure by the city council to empty rubbish bins on time. The bins, she said, were collected after a long time.

Ms Modise who is also a Ward Development Committee (WDC) member complained about noise emanating from some vehicles whose owners had a tendency to pack in front of homesteads and play music loudly, sometimes into the wee hours of the morning. .

Another resident, Mr Kudzani Ntwaetsile praised the health ministry for the  Public Health Bill.  He said should it become law, it would help reduce incidences whereby some patients concealed their HIV/AIDS status and ended up  infecting their care givers .

Mr Peter Themba , another resident , said compulsory testing would assist reduce the HIV/AIDS -related deaths as  many people had died because they did not want to go for voluntary testing .

Another resident, Mr Ojahile Lejoa disapproved the Bill, saying compulsory testing did not sit well with the provisions of the constitution which rooted for preservation and respect for human rights.

Earlier on, Mr Mmolotsi had informed his audience about the State of the Nation Address and the Public Health Bill.

He said the address spoke of prospects of the world going into a double dip recession.

He said Botswana’s economy had only grown by 3.5 per cent as opposed to the five per anticipated growth, attributing the turn of events to low diamond sales.

Mr Mmolotsi said in December 2011, the foreign reserves were at P60.3 billion  but last December it was at P54 billion, a thing that he said was of great concern.

On other issues, Mr Mmolotsi advised the residents to report any noise pollution to the police because it was a punishable offence.

He informed the residents that he would follow up the issue of the suspension of Ipelegeng progamme in urban areas as he had made a suggestion against that  to the responsible minister. ENDS