Moiteela spoke recently when addressing a full council session in Sowa Town. Moiteela said: "Sowa Clinic serves the town and surrounding cattle posts, while mobile stops are done at Malelejwe and Tshwaane. The clinic has been operating with a single ambulance to transport both patients and staff. However, since early 2024, the ambulance has been out of service and sent for repairs. “Currently, the clinic relies on assistance from other departments, which at times compromises patient safety. The clinic frequently experiences machine breakdowns in the laboratory, along with reagent shortages. As a result, specimens must be sent to Nata and Tutume for analysis. However, due to transport challenges, this can delay timely diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, the backup generator is out of service, leaving the clinic vulnerable during power outages. The facilities fall short of required standards, and the Medical Officer (Doctor) position has remained vacant since November 2024.” Patients, Moiteela noted, are attended to by medical officers on outreach visits, which sometimes occur only once a month. “Ladies and gentlemen, these are just some of the challenges our clinic faces. However, rather than discouraging us, they should motivate us to find solutions and ensure the efficient and effective delivery of health services. While our budget may not be as robust as we would like, this situation calls for collective effort, innovation, and resource-sharing to maintain service delivery with minimal compromise,” he urged.
“Councillors, as we took an oath to be the voice of the people of Sowa, we cannot do that only through appreciation of reports,. Let us be eager to know exactly what is happening on the ground by visiting our facilities and projects. Only then will we be able to advocate for the town. One burning issue I wish for all of us to take note of is the state of Nxakato Junior Secondary School. The school has struggled with poor academic performance over the years alongside increasing student indiscipline. I firmly believe that the challenging learning and living conditions significantly contribute to this ongoing issue,” Moiteela emphasised. The school expansion project, Moiteela explained, has been delayed due to a litigation case by one of the bidders. “Let us stand together and advocate for the fast-tracking of this case so that we can foster effective learning and positive student outcomes. I will commit to engaging the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education for a visit, allowing them to witness firsthand the dire state of the school. Honourable members, let us be close to this school as it houses our children who are the future leaders of the society, and commit to restoring dignity to the institution,” he said.
Moiteela also decried the shortage of accommodation for both residential and commercial purposes. “Land is a fundamental advantage upon which economic and socio-political activities are anchored on. Since its establishment in 1991, this vibrant town has faced limited growth opportunities due lack of plot allocations for both residential and commercial use. The unavailability of serviced land hinders not only population growth but also the delivery of public services and the attraction of investors. Our greatest asset in Sowa is a great deal of virgin land that offers favourable growth conditions for investment to land developers. Therefore, it should be yours and my main priority to ensure that land servicing and allocation is fast-tracked. Among these is the completion of the Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA Block 3) project,” said Moiteela. He also bemoaned that most Sowa Town machinery is down. “On 20th February 2025, the Sowa District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) convened a special meeting to determine Sowa’s preparedness in case of disaster. It was established that most of our machineries are down. The grader and bulldozer are in the workshop due to mechanical faults. Our fire engines are also in Gaborone for mechanical repairs. The clinic has challenges as mentioned earlier in my address. On the more positive side, the front end loader is functional, though with worn out tyres. There are four pumps at the roads division, and two floating pumps from the fire division.
The fire division ambulance is functional. The BOTASH Mine has also been requested to assist with fire engines in case of fire emergency, and they have committed to assisting within Sowa. The Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has a functional Tractor Loader Backhoe (TLB) although it services all of Nata/Gweta,” Moiteela cried out. Moiteela added: “Overall, it was established that the town has limited functional resources, which may compromise safety during emergency situations. The DDMC advised that responsible departments prioritise funds towards the repairs of broken-down machinery to ensure optimal preparedness. The committee will meet for weekly updates on progress made to that effect. The Sowa Kgotla and Sowa Primary School have all been designated as the emergency evacuation points.” Moiteela also expressed concern that the council’s disaster management is under-resourced. “Ladies and gentlemen, to add on to the issue of disaster preparedness, our fire department which we largely rely on for most emergency situations is gravely under-resourced. Let me first acknowledge the incredible work our firefighters do every day, braving dangerous conditions to protect us all. We owe them a debt of gratitude, given the hurdles that they encounter as they perform their noble duty. Our fire engine and supporting vehicles are approaching the lifespan of 20 years. While our firefighters work tirelessly, they should not have to fight an uphill battle with equipment that is not up to task,” said Moiteela.
Furthermore, the department is gravely under-staffed, which negatively impacts on optimal response time and effective emergency management, said Moiteela. “Our firefighters need modern equipment to do their jobs effectively and it is our responsibility to advocate for these resources. Let me assure this honourable house that addressing these challenges is a top priority for my administration. Although the procurement of a new fire engine was suggested in UDP 5, we are actively exploring all possible funding options, including grants and partnerships with neighbouring communities. Let us renew our commitment to supporting those who safeguard us by ensuring that they have the best tools, training, and staffing available,” said Moiteela.
