Letlhakane residents bemoan scarcity of developments

Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday May 29, 2017 16:15

With such riches of diamonds surrounding the village, commonly known as Zowa, residents still feel that the government has turned a blind eye in improving its infrastructure. In an interview with The Monitor Boteti Sub-District deputy chairman and also Letlhakane Central councillor, Molemi Galeragwe said that Letlhakane’s population is high and its development should meet the inhabitants.

He said that even though surrounded by mines their village does not have roads, except for gravel roads, which have deep potholes.  Galeragwe also said that the residents of the area drink salty water, which is not good for their health.

“We long reported the issue to the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) and they promised to supply a water treatment plant to improve the situation.

WUC is also in the process of establishing two dams which will eliminate shortage of water in the area,” he said. He further said they experience frequent power cuts that lasts more than a week, which slow down productions especially in the hospitality and tourism sector.

Galeragwe said that their community does not have sewage systems. Letlhakane South Councillor, Aaron Baitsemang said that it is depressing for a village with a bigger population surrounded by mines to be experiencing slow development.

He said the village lack infrastructural developments such as roads and streetlights. “Though we are surrounded by mines and a gateway to tourism destinations we do not have proper roads or lighting. We no longer have potholes in our gravel roads rather we have ponds,” he said. He added that the potholes were worsened by this years’ heavy rains attributed to Cyclone Dineo.

He bemoaned the salty water, which leads to diarrhoea. He said that the government should consider increasing the budget of the council, which has been reduce by eight percent to P1.4 million this financial year.

A member of the public, Onkemetse Mpolokang, 29  a Karowe mine employee, also told this publication that developments in the area are slow. He decried lack of alternatives roads, streetlights and malls despite been one of the busiest villages. He also said that Letlhakane accommodates travellers to tourism destinations, but they are still supplied with salty water.

“A lot of residents don’t use water for consumptions, but rather prefer to purchase from retail outlets,” he said. Another resident Mmapula Kgomotso said developments in the area are lagging behind.

Kgomotso also complained about high unemployment, which leads to crime. She said that there is also a need for introduction of tertiary institutions in the village to curb long distances that undertaken by students to other areas.  The hawker raised a concern about the high prices of food and clothes and prefers to buy in Francistown because it is much cheaper there.

“The only cheap stuff is alcohol and red meat,” she said, adding that even Chinese shops exploited them. She called on the government to bring more developments.