Mookane farmers donate to school
Archie Mokoka | Friday August 16, 2019 15:05
The donations were handed to the outgoing Member of Parliament for Mahalapye East and Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Botlogile Tshireletso who in turn passed them to the school head at the village kgotla. Tshireletso was bidding her constituents bye-bye as she retires from active politics.
The MP also gave her last update on the 13 bills passed during last sitting of Parliament.
The chairperson of the association, Phenyo Nthase said at the beginning of the harvest day three families came together with friends with expertise and decided to share their knowledge with neighbouring farmers. They didn’t ask for money because they were volunteering.
As the good work became evident the association started receiving assistance from organisations. “We were sponsored for half a million Pula which we used for the harvest day. What remained we decided to help the school children by buying chairs and sanitary pads for them.
We bought 100 chairs worth over P9, 000 and sanitary pads worth over P1,500. Ms Ntwaagae also contributed P500’s worth of pads,” he said and urged parents to make sure their children have pads.
Councillor Thebe Setlalekgosi was grateful for the donation. He revealed that the farmers initially intended to buy 200 chairs but he persuaded them to buy less chairs and add sanitary pads after consulting with the school and making a shocking discovery that many girl didn’t have pads.
Tshireletso who was also bidding her constituents farewell and updating them on the bills passed by parliament had good news for Mookane farmers. She revealed that BMC would become a government company on transit to becoming a private company.
She stated that the government would take BMC shares while preparing to sell them to the public. “It would be under transition to a private company while strategies are being finalised.
BMC monopoly will also be ended so that Batswana can sell to the international market without going through BMC,” she said.
The bill further facilitates for the establishment of regulatory institutions such as the regulatory authority to ensure fair. Under land reforms that are expected citizens will be eligible for one arable plot allocation but will be free to buy more privately.
Integrated farming will also be allowed provided the land is fenced. Furthermore, Agricultural Production Zones will be protected such that change of use will not be allowed. However, only 15% can be used for other uses and anymore would require Minister’s consent.
For communal grazing the land will be fenced and watering points will continue to be given to syndicates and individuals but priority will be given to syndicates in limited grazing areas among other reforms.