Cllrs irate as hiking stop makes way for mall

Lindiwe Mozola | Thursday August 24, 2017 16:51

The Francistown hiking spot, which was opposite Choppies Shopping Complex was closed in 2014 to pave way for the construction of the Palapye new bus/taxi rank.

Palapye Administration Authority (PAA) road engineers had cautioned that it would be dangerous to continue with the hiking stop as analyses had shown that traffic volumes in Palapye were increasing rapidly.

Despite the reasons advanced to close the hiking stop, councillors had demanded its reopening, arguing that as it made life easier for commuters who now have to walk longer distances to the new stop. The Department of Roads, in a previous council session, had promised councillors that the decision would be taken up to ministerial level, with the hope of a positive response.

On Tuesday, the glimmer of hope was doused as councillors were told that transport and communications minister,Kitso Mokaila had taken a final decision not to reinstate the stop, after meeting with the owners of the Junction Mall.

PAA’s senior assistant council secretary, Lucky Maoto said the owners of the mall had told the minister that instead of the old hiking stop, they now wanted to build a mall access road.

“This road will branch off from the A1 road going through the mall to the new bus rank and as such, their request was approved by Mokaila hence the hiking stop will not be put back to use,” Maoto said.

In response, councillors expressed displeasure at the new development, saying they were being undermined.

Lerala West councillor, Gabagopole Sebele said the development showed total disregard to councillors as decision makers.

He questioned how such a decision could be taken without their input.

“This Junction mall has always been the main reason the hiking stop was removed yet we were made to believe that it was for our own safety. 

This is uncalled for and it confirms how much this sub-council is being disregarded,” Sebele said.

Lerala East Councillor, Kabo Ketshogile shared Sebele’s sentiments, saying councillors had been deceived into thinking the old hiking stop would return, when in truth, a decision had long been taken.

“At the end of the day the community expects answers from us,” charged Ketshogile.