The villagers want out of Marapong administration

KEABETSWE NEWEL
Correspondent | Friday October 8, 2010 00:00

Just 30 kilometres from the Francistown along the Orapa Road, a green sign pointing to the right points to Makobo.

What the signboard does not tell you is that you must wind up your car window to keep the dust out as soon as you take the turn to enter Makobo. But there is no way of avoiding 'main road' because it is the most reliable one that leads also the Kgotla.

Other than the fact that people and cars travel on it, nothing justifies calling the trek a road. It is full of hidden expenses for motorists, especially who go this way regularly, who will need a mechanic afterwards.

In addition to loose stones and streams running across the road, there are craters almost big enough to swallow whole cars, compelling motorists to go at a snail's pace.

Those with mini cars are advised not to even try. It took Mmegi a while to reach the Kgotla, which is not very far from the turn-off.

The Kgotla is made up of a two-roomed office int which members of the Village Development Committee (VDC) us.

Kgosi Adam Makobo says his late father, Tshwanelo Makobo, founded the village in 1943 and became the chief. 'The village began as a cattle post for people living in Sebina and Mathangwane,' he says.

'My father was in charge of it. However, people were attracted to it and slowly pushed the livestock away to create space for more and more people.'

Adam Makobo was installed Kgosi in 1999 when his ageing father's health began to decline. 'But I was officially decalred Kgosi by the Kgosi Ramosenyi Radipitse of Tonota in 2003,' he says. 'I was upgraded to Headman of Records in 2008.'

But 67 years since the founding of the village, economic development is literally thin on the ground. Things got worse after the village was moved from the Tonota sub-district to the Marapong sub-district administration.

'Even minor things cannot be done,' says Kgosi Makobo. 'Look at the furniture; it is worn out but the council does not see the need to at least buy furniture for my office.'

He accuses the local councillor of not identifying the village. 'He has rejected the village,' he says.

The VDC Chairman, Jerry Frenzen, steers the converstion back to the road. 'Even public transport is scarce because operators say this road destroys their vehicles,' says Frenzen.

Only one combi is currently running while many people hold public transport licenses for the route.

Frenzen says they made many futile attempts to talk to James Dlamini, the councillor, about the road.

Frenzen likens talking to Dlamini to trying to draw water from a stone but quickly withdraws the statement because at least a stone will eventually crack, he says, seething with anger at the absence of the councillor.

'The councillor hardly ever comes to Makobo,' he continues. 'We only saw him here when he was campaigning for elections.

VDC Treasurer, Keneilwe Flora Thapelo, agrees about the councillor's absence, saying the man never holds development meetings. 'We have proposed projects for maintaining the primary school and the clinic, but they were unsuccessful for lack ofmoney.  Apparently there was some money, but Thapelo does not know what happened to it. Although she contacted the councillor about the issue, it was never addressed, she alleges.

'I do not know of any time that the councillor addressed an issue in this village,' she says. 'It's as though he is afraid of people.'

There is electricity in the village, but neither Makobo Primary School nor the clinic is connected. Thapelo says no efforts have been made to do so.

'Even the paint is peeling off at the primary school,' she says. 'Our neighbouring villages like Natale have overtaken us in economic development when we should at least be at the same level.' Neglect has dilapidated the school while schools in nearby villages have been spot colourful face brick walls. 'We also have a major problem at the clinic,' Thapelo says. 'There is one nurse who travels frequently, leaving patients unattended.'

Village elder, Jerry Gadebe, who is also a member of the VDC, says the main problem is that Makobo falls under Marapong instead of Tonota Sub-District, which is much nearer.

The development projects that have been implemented here are attributed to the efforts of former MPs, Pono Moatlhodi and the late Baledzi Gaolathe.

'The electricity connection that began early this year was the effort of the late Gaolathe,' says Gadebe, who wants Makobo returned to the jurisdiction of Tonota.

'We talked to Councillor Dlamini to transfer us back to the Tonota Sub-district since he does nothing for us,' he continues. 'Although he agreed to negotiate on our behalf, nothing has happened.'

Contacted for comment, Councillor Dlamini denies all the allegations levelled against him. This is how he sees things: 'It is only that some VDC members want to topple me from the council. So they are dragging my name in the mud.'

He says he has held two meetings in the village and was planning to hold a third this week to discuss development issues with the VDC. The councillor says the road could long have been graded, but the graders did not have blades.

'The road was included in the 2009 development programme but was dropped because of the global recession,' says Councillor Dlamini. 'But it is still a priority.