Mysterious disappearances disturbing - Kaboeamodimo

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Thursday September 22, 2011 00:00

First up was retired politician, Ketumile Kaboeamodimo, who expressed concern over unexplained disappearances of people in Botswana, 'most of whom are never found'.

Kaboeamodimo told the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Peter Siele, that the whole nation was living in fear because of the phenomenon of unexplained disappearances and called on acting Justice, Defence and Security Minister, Edwin Batshu to reassure Batswana of their safety.

'In 2007, 415 people disappeared,' he said. 'In 2008, another 525 disappeared, while none of the 500 who disappeared in 2009 was found. This is a scary trend and we no longer know if tomorrow it will be one of us.

'Last year, two children disappeared at Maisane. A baboon's skull was later found with one of the children's clothes, which clearly showed that someone had done something and was trying to conceal the evidence.'

As the veteran politician pressed on, he complained of what he called the failure of Botswana police officers to hoist the national flag at the Kgotla, which he said happened routinely.

As though to illustrate Kaboeamodimo's complaint, the flag was not up during the meeting. When police officers were called, it was discovered that the cords for hoisting the flag and holding it to the mast were missing.

Kaboeamodimo also accused government of not properly consulting the nation on the issue of handing over the management of water to Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) from the Department of Water Affairs and local councils. He accused the government of bulldozing councils, hence the whole process was riddled with problems, including a poor billing system.

'Since this takeover started in Kanye, people go for days without water because no one seems to understand how to handle the issue,' he said.

'People should have been given a chance to air their views and to appreciate whatever problems necessitated the phasing out of the old system.'

He said it was disturbing that after preaching decentralisation a few years ago, government was taking over services from councils. 'Where is the decentralisation,' he queried.

Another commentator at the meeting complained bitterly about bureaucratic inefficiency in government departments. 'One wonders if civil servants have any rules to follow,' said the woman whom Mmegi failed to identify. 'There is a disturbing trend of being sent from pillar to post regardless of how serious the matter may be.'

While she concurred with Minister Siele that some people were using potable water for livestock and other farming purposes, she said the laxity of civil servants was contributing to the problem because broken pipes were often left unattended to for months, even if the public reported them to relevant authorities.

Meanwhile, Siele had earlier told the gathering that the seven-phased takeover by WUC was aimed to cover 500 villages by 2014. He emphasised the importance of saving water, saying that must go hand in hand with government's efforts to ensure that all Batswana have access to clean water.

Construction of dams such as Dikgatlhong, which would have the capacity of 400 million cubic metres when completed, was an example of such efforts. 'These might sound like big numbers, but with climate change, which has resulted in considerable reduction in rain, you never know how long this waterwill last,' Siele said.

While he said government believed it was a good idea to have one authority overseeing the management of water throughout the country, Siele acknowledged that the process was wrought with serious challenges.

He said some the challenges involved redeployment and relocation of former employees of Water Affairs and council water departments. Nonetheless, he assured Bangwaketse that 'no one would be thrown out'.

WUC, which started as a water supplier for towns and cities, has now taken over 160 villages.