Selebi-Phikwe still praying for presidential touch down
Tlamelo Seabelo | Friday June 29, 2018 15:14
Molefhi said that a formal communication to relevant stakeholders will be made should an opportunity for such a visit arise.
He was responding a question by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Selebi-Phikwe West, Dithapelo Keorapetse, who had asked Molefhi if he was aware that former president, Ian Khama never acceded to repeated requests by his constituents’ call for a visit so as to interact on the state of the town and its people since the closure of the BCL Mine. Keorapetse also wanted to know if there were plans by President Masisi to visit the struggling town for the aforementioned purposes; if so, when, and if not, why.
In response Molefhi, who is also an MP for Selebi-Phikwe East, said: “In instances where, on account of his busy schedule, the former president was unable to attend to a request for a meeting, he would ensure that depending on the magnitude of the subject matter, either his vice president or a minister attends on his behalf.
“The request by the residents of Selebi-Phikwe for a meeting with him regarding the state of the town since the closure of the BCL Mine is a case in point. The then vice president was assigned to consult Selebi-Phikwe residents and former employees of the Mine. I do recall that a team of Cabinet ministers was appointed to accompany the Vice President”. He said the outcome of the consultative meeting was a Revitalisation Plan for Selebi-Phikwe town, which is currently being implemented. The inclusion of a discussion of the implementation of the plan as a standing agenda item of Cabinet is but one of the many ways of ensuring that revitalisation of Selebi-Phikwe is realised.
“The sitting President visited Selebi-Phikwe when he was the vice president. Currently, he has not communicated any intention to visit. However, a formal communication to relevant stakeholders will be made should an opportunity for such a visit arise.”
Francistown South MP, Wynter Mmolotsi also weighed in on the matter by stating that Khama never visited villages which where lead by opposition party MPs and if that will be the case with Masisi.
“As for the former president not to have visited those villages as you have mentioned I cannot say, but the President is working on the revitalisation of Selebi-Phikwe which gives us assurance to visit every place that requires his attention in line with building and working on the country’s vision,” Molefhi said in response.