22 Sep 2019

Prospective parliamentary candidates for Boteti East have expressed similar views on the need to empower local communities living near the mines to ensure that they reap better benefits from the mining activities.

As they debated issues during the Radio Botswana parliamentary debates in Letlhakane on September 20, the candidates said they longed for more support from the mines, which would result in the economic transformation of the communities.

Mr Oboetswe Gabotlale of Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) said although Boteti was a diamond mining area, poverty level remained high. 

He said should he win the parliamentary seat, his focus would be to establish a close working relationship with Debswana for the benefit of the locals.

He said he would advocate for implementation of the social licence, which he explained was a requirement that would bind the mines to enhance the lives of the communities within which they operate.

Mr Gabotlale said the Corporate Social Investment programme was different from social licence as it was not binding, citing that companies ushered support to the community at their own discretion.

With the social licence, the mines would be required to adhere to the set guidelines and the communities would have an upper hand stating the type of support they required from the mining companies.

He said he would advocate that Letlhakane become a development centre by enforcing guidelines for businesses operating in Letlhakane.

He said a mining museum would be established by taking advantage of the mines and the pans in Letlhakane for tourism purposes.

On other issues, Mr Gabotlale stated that their plan as BPF was to make farms habitable by opening up roads leading to the farming areas.

The aim, he said, was to set up milling machines in the farms to enable production and processing of food from the farms.

He said focus would also be on the school syllabus by tailoring it to suit the job market.

Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) representative Mr Tshenolo Saakane said he would assist Debswana employees to develop their own infrastructure using part of their housing allowance, as he said most of them became homeless when they lose jobs.

Mr Saakane said he would ensure that Debswana outsourced some services, stating that the company should focus on its core mandate.

He said poor health services and shortage of classrooms in schools in Letlhakane was a concern that  needed to be addressed.

He said as part of transforming the agricultural sector, water would be sourced from underground for agricultural purposes.

Mr Saakane said there were a large number of unemployed skilled graduates, citing that those skilled in filming could be supported to establish a television channel for Letlhakane.

He stated that UDC advocated for decent jobs and lives and would make that possible by creating 100 000 jobs in 12 months, introducing P3 000 living wage, P2 500 student allowance, P1 500 old age pension and tablets for students.

Alliance for Progressives (AP)’s Mr Kabelo Tutwane said he would advocate for enhanced health services, citing the poor status of Letlhakane Primary Hospital.

Mr Tutwane said the intention was to upgrade the education system, as he said each class should have 25 pupils. He indicated that the aim was to build classrooms to enhance the standard of education.

Mr Tutwane said they would empower the youth and renovate abandoned structures and convert them into recreational facilities.

AP, he said, would cluster fields and fence them to assist farmers in groups.

Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) said he advocated for most of the projects that were not included in National Development Plan (NDP) 11 when he took over the parliamentary seat in 2014.

He stated that during his tenure, such offices as Botswana Unified Revenue Service and Gender Affairs offices opened locally, while transport offices were expanded.

He said the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency was also opened in Letlhakane through his advocacy.

Mr Lelatisitswe said during his time, Makgaba settlement was declared a village.

He indicated that a 70-bed hospital facility had been included in NDP 11.

The aim, he said, was also to increase 24-hour clinics in the village, starting with Letlhakane Clinic.

Some of the projects which were deferred due to the economic crisis in 2008, he said, had been included in NDP 11, citing Mosu/Thalamabele road, which was already under construction, power network expansion in Letlhakane and street light installation.

Mr Lelatisitswe said he would continue to ensure that the community benefitted from the mining companies such as Debswana and Lucara Botswana.

He indicated that Lucara would fund a multipurpose stadium facility, a package that would include an English medium school starting from pre-primary to Form Six.

Debswana, he said, had adopted schools in Letlhakane, stating that the company constructed classroom blocks at Letlhakane Primary School and also assisted with installation of street lights in the village.

He said World Bank would fund a sewerage system for Letlhakane. Ends