Monarch regenerated

EDWARD BULE
Correspondent | Friday October 22, 2010 00:00

Monarch has indeed come a long way. Rural poverty and the allure of town life drove people to the new settlement of Monarch, especially after the discovery of gold there. The decline in demand for gold globally and the subsequent closure of the Monarch gold mines forced those who remained and had the means, to divert into other commercial activities such as agriculture, while the vast majority, especially the locals, fell into poverty and destitution. The densely populated settlement also became an environmental nightmare because there were no toilets.

Alcoholism as well as both street and domestic violence became its trademarks as township pubs, or shebeens, became a source of income for the unemployed women who brewed all sorts of alcoholic drinks for sale to make ends meet.

The absence of serviced land, poverty and the absence of construction guidelines resulted in the mushrooming of rows and rows of unsightly shacks in no time. Even in the later years, this township, like others in Botswana, had no tarred roads, no proper streets, no streetlights, no piped water, no sewerage or other amenities.

Due to the rough environment and shortage of role models, the youth of Monarch engaged in anti-social activities such as violence and drug peddling and drug abuse.

The labyrinth of unsightly residential structures, the environmental degradation, the spartan lifestyle due to poverty and destitution, alcoholism, the use of pit latrines, and the high crime levels all conspired to entrench negative stereotypes about the place itself and its residents especially in the minds of the high income neighbourhoods. Monarch became such a symbol of social and economic exclusion that even prospective employers were reluctant to hire a resident from this township. Yet, as the town of Francistown continued to welcome people from various villages who sought employment, Monarch offered cheaper accommodation for both the unemployed and underpaid.

In 2008, the government, after years of representation from the residents of Monarch and the other stakeholders, put aside money for the upgrading of the township. The Infrastructure Development Project entailed the upgrading and building of roads, sewerage system, water reticulation lines, the building of proper streets, street-lights, the relocation of some residents to decongest the area, and the construction of a bridge joining the township with Bluetown.

As a result, Monarch has been physically transformed almost beyond recognition. Roads, with proper traffic markings, are in place, the township is bright with streetlights and the bridge is almost complete.

One of the main problems experienced by the residents of Monarch and other townships, has been the flooding of homesteads during the rainy season. People have lost property such as furniture, food, and clothes as floodwater found its way into their houses.

Francistown City Mayor Shadreck Nyeku says that his council made a master plan for the contraction of a storm drainage system for the whole of Francistown, including Monarch. This, according to Nyeku, entailed the construction of culverts to transport water away from homesteads. The mayor revealed that the storm drainage system has unfortunately been held in abeyance due to financial constraints.

Residents James Maofisi and Nkhwa Gaikai both welcome the infrastructure development of the township because it will improve the image of Francistown. Gaikai feels that the suspension of the storm drainage system is unfortunate because floods are a problem in Monarch.

While she is proud of the new developments, Lorato Mpoelang is unhappy that the youth of Monarch were sidelined in favour of people from outside with respect to employment for the project. According to her, even foreigners were employed ahead of the unemployed local youth. The fact that there is no multi-purpose hall in Monarch is another setback.

The tarring of the internal roads has brought a big sense of relief to Kamogelo Bernard because dust is now a thing of the past. Two Caprivi Strip refugees from Namibia, who preferred anonymity, said that although the developments are welcome, it is regrettable that council has discontinued the issuing of rubbish bins; a situation that might lead to squalor and tarnish Monarch's new-look.

Laizah Maguswi, a former councillor of Monarch South, and Dimpho Thabano say that the rehabilitation of the Monarch roads has made it easier for residents to enjoy reliable taxi service unlike in the past when taxi drivers refused to reach certain parts of the township because of bad roads. They add that streetlights will help solve the security problem as thieves and other criminals would no longer use the cover of darkness to terrorise the people.

On the question of who should get the credit for the development of the Monarch infrastructure, Maguswi, unlike most politicians who would seek to take all the credit, said that all the community leaders including the first councillor of Monarch as well as the incumbents made a contribution. Maguswi feels that Monarch deserves a police depot too since the nearest police station is too far as the township has grown.

The incumbent councillor of Monarch West, Shah Jack celebrates the development of Monarch. She remembers the dark days when the people of Monarch would go for weeks without water. She has always considered pit latrines a health hazard and is happy that the new sewerage would enable the people to build water borne toilets.

Councillor Raoboy Mpuang of Monarch East says that although he welcomes the upgrading of Monarch, he is worried that there are still people who have not been compensated by the contractor. He reveals that an agreement was made at the beginning that the constructor would compensate those whose houses would be affected during excavation or construction.

The councillor for Monarch South, Mokwaledi Moswaane shares Mpuang's sentiments regarding residents who are still owed, saying that they (residents) should keep all the records to facilitate an appeal to the minister should the council fail to assist. Moswaane is proud that the property of the residents will have more value. He reveals that there are business plots in Monarch that have not been developed.

His suspicion is that the image of the township has been a disincentive to most business plot owners. He hopes residents would play their part and compliment the upgrading effort by not only keeping the place clean but by using schemes such as SHHA to upgrade, extend or build their houses.   

The mayor, who is upbeat about the new face of Monarch, hopes that those who could, would build houses whose value will be consistent with the township's new image.

He reveals that a big piece of land has been demarcated for business in Monarch and hopes that people will make use of it. For his part, President of the Monarch Customary Court, Kgosi Segomotso Rammala is confident that the physical regeneration of Monarch heralds a new era.

He believes that the people will change in accordance with the new image of their place, which is more dignified.He also hopes that outsiders will begin to define the place more positively and the residents will not be ashamed of being associated with it.

A physically regenerated Monarch, which has been poor and underdeveloped, is bound to generate investor interest. With an enhanced security, reduced poverty, coupled with an upsurge in economic and social activities, the township is on the threshold to be integrated into Francistown's mainstream industrial activity.