Recent rains exposed our vulnerability

Mmegi Editor | Thursday February 23, 2017 15:46

The rainy season follows over half a decade of low rainfall and high temperatures that resulted in deaths of hundreds of our livestock, low harvest, strange livestock diseases, decrease in wildlife population and land degradation amongst others. This is the year that will be recorded among memorable events such as Nako ya mabele a mantshonyana, and others.

However, this week’s heavy rains in the southern part of the country have exposed the weaknesses of our infrastructure in terms of roads and bridges. One example is the Nnywane Bridge that connects Lobatse and Otse, which has been in a bad state for the last 10 years. The bridge had become so dangerous that authorities had erected 60km speed limit road signs less than 100 meters before the bridge.

The Lobatse-Gaborone road is part of the A1 and a very busy road that does not only connect two towns, but also a link between Botswana and the North West and Gauteng provinces in South Africa.  Thousands of motorists use the road on a daily basis to travel between the two countries, as well as transport tonnes of goods into Botswana and beyond. The road was built about five decades ago and obviously has been affected by changes such as widening of the river and other natural factors.

The Ramotswa-Gaborone road, for which the link is the Taung Bridge, is another example of a very important road that has been neglected for many years. As you read this article, hundreds and perhaps thousands of people are still stuck in Ramotswa and cannot travel to Gaborone because of flooding. Of course the amount of rainfall we received this year is rare and only came after 15 or more years, but we can learn from them. The Nnywane Bridge should have long been repaired or replaced with a much higher bridge considering the importance of the A1 road to the country’s economy and the heavy traffic comprising of long distance haulers that use it on daily basis.

We should also consider building alternative routes for many of our highways to decongest our roads as well as prepare for future disasters such as the one we are facing. The more we develop our infrastructure the more we will attract investors who will create jobs for us. Otherwise, we will remain in one position for many years when we could be moving forward at a faster rate.

Today’s thought

States get to improve transportation infrastructure; that creates economic development, puts people back to work and, most important, enhances safety and improves local communities. 

- Corrine Brown