I won't budge - Nthomphe

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday August 30, 2010 00:00

Some former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members in Gaborone West South, including one councillor and the area MP, Botsalo Ntuane have decamped to the BMD. But Nthompe a staunch BDP member, said he is not going to change political base.

Having worked with Ntuane closely, there might be assumptions that Nthompe would join the MP at BMD.The councillor said he will not be following the MP to his new political home.  Rather he will be focusing on delivering his election promises.  Nthompe became a councillor for the first time following last year's general elections under a BDP ticket.  The councillor reckons that he has a lot on his hands.  One of the challenges facing the ward is that some of the residents are still using pit latrines.  Nthompe said there is an ongoing project to phase-out the pit latrines.  He said the project has already commenced.

Another issue is that of the dusty roads that are snaking around the area.  The councillor also wants something to be done about the situation.  Nthompe said they expected a briefing from the Gaborone mayor, to update about the project of tarring roads.   However, he said, the roads cannot be tarred at the same time while the pit latrine project is still being undertaken.  He said the roads project could only commence after the pit latrines project has been completed.

The councillor decried that there are no recreational facilities in his area.  He revealed that they have identified a plot for a recreational park.  Nthompe said the Village Development Committee (VDC), has been allocated a plot.

Part of the plot will be used for horticulture.  The VDC will also lease portion of the space to small entrepreneurs like wielders, who are operating in the street.

The civic leader is also concerned about the thickets in the open spaces.  But the he said the thickets will be covered by the Ipelegeng programme. 

Another issue that Nthompe would like to tackle is that of crime.  Some of the efforts to fight include the formation of neighbourhood watch groups and this has already been done. Nthompe said he has been addressing the community about crime.  He is also a leading member of the Selekangwetsi neighbourhood watch group. 

Nthomphe spoke about efforts that he has undertaken to approach companies operating in his Gaborone West South.  'We want to join forces with them to develop the constituency,' he said, adding that he received a positive response from the companies. He said they would identify projects that where they could collaborate.

After his five year, Nthompe would like to see all the challenges he has alluded to, having been addressed. 'But I will only say I have made any achievement if pit latrines have been phased out and the dusty roads tarred. One would also to see the reduction of crime in the area and open spaces being utilised for recreational facilities,' he said.   However, he did not state whether he would stand for a second term. 

Nthompe said since he became a councillor, he has tabled a number of motions at the council.  One of his motions which was passed, was the one that called for the building of public toilets at the Botswana National Youth Centre (BNYC) in Gaborone West.  Another of his motion that has been adopted, was the one which called for review of the Ipelegeng guidelines. Nthompe feels that the motion has been partly addressed by recent hike of Ipelegeng workers' wages.

Another motion called for the putting up of a sports ground for two adjacent schools at Gaborone West. But to Nthompe, what is important is not only tabling motions but the implementation part of it. Nthompe said he is still maintaining a good relationship with the people in his area irrespective of their political affiliation. 'My relationship with the electorate is very good.  We meet once a month.'

He also socialises at social events and is able to interact with the electorate from every level. Nthompe who is also working for a top local bank, said he decided to stand for council because he has always been involved in community projects.  At some stage, he was running a social football team.  He was also active in the neighbourhood watch committee. 

Although they no longer belong to the same party, Nthompe said his relationship with the area MP, Ntuane is cordial. He is prepared to work with the MP when it comes to the development of their constituency.   Nthompe said he would also attend kgotla meetings addressed by the MP.