Selebi-Phikwe councillors on the warpath

Calistus Kolantsho
Correspondent | Monday March 8, 2010 00:00

The councillors resolved in special full council meeting held on Thursday last week, to send a delegation to the Office of The President (OP) to challenge the decision. The delegation will also challenge the decision by the government  of cutting down its 2010/2011 budget. The Town Mayor, Lekang Mukokomani said they still have to write the OP informing them about their visit and seeking a convenient date for the two parties to meet. He stated that they will inform the OP that the matter is urgent.

'Our budget was drastically cut. Our situation is different from other towns and there we need special dispensation. Right now we have a completed maternity wing at Sesame clinic but the facility is a white elephant because there is no staff. We wanted to hire personnel but all the posts have been frozen,' he said.

Mukokomani mentioned that the college appears in the government national development plan 9. He added that even the then Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Baledzi Gaolathe had announced in his budget speech that its construction was about to begin. He argued that the ministry of education does not have authority to overrule something that has been told Parliament. He added that the decision is not justifiable.

Botshabelo East councillor, Kgakgamatso Ramatlopi said sending a delegation to OP would be a waste of money and time. He told his colleagues that the ministry's decision cannot be changed no matter how hard they try.

Evelyn Kgodungwe of Thakadiawa ward stated that the delegation must be sent. She argued that they were expecting the college and they cannot be told otherwise. 'We must show this people that we are sick and tired of projects whisked away right under our noses. The electorates will believe that we are weak and cannot challenge government decisions. It does not matter if they will still say no, the delegation must go,' she lashed out.

Godfrey Mbaiwa of Sesame South said the only reason the college is not being built is fear of duplication but the money is there. He argued that if the ministry upgrade the technical college it means only part of the funds will be used. 'Where will the other funds go?' he asked. He stated that the council must lobby the support of the community and they will obviously get it.

During his visit to Selebi-Phikwe, the Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development Keletso Rakhudu said his ministry has decided to expand the Selebi-Phikwe Technical College to cater for the programmes that were meant for CAAT. He mentioned that the college was to be built with the assistance of the European Union (EU).Rakhudu stated that funds for the expansion are available.

'The EU will also assist us in the expansion of the technical college because its funds are meant for educational purposes. The expansion of the technical college was also in the National Development Plan 10,' said Rakhudu.

He explained that they want to avoid duplicating the same projects in the same locality at the same time. He pointed out that most technical colleges are operating below capacity such as Gaborone Technical College and Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education (FCTVE) and the College of Applied Arts and Technology in Odi is about to be completed.