Heavy rains thwart Khama�s Mabesekwa visit
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday April 21, 2015 12:59
It was a sad moment for the elders who came in large numbers to greet and possibly shake hands with the President and his entourage as it had been intended.
Things started going wrong when the well-decorated table that was laid for the President and his entourage was blown away by heavy winds. This forced government officials who were waiting to welcome the President to flee to their vehicles outside the Kgotla, leaving residents stranded.
The chaos caused by heavy rains left people wondering if the meeting will go on. Suddenly an announcement was made that due to heavy rains, the meeting will be postponed. Breaking the sad news Tonota Sub-District Commissioner, Khumo Keeng promised that through the village leadership, they would communicate a new date for the President’s visit.
The village Kgosi, Gaolebe Selei pleaded with the residents to understand that it was God’s will to give them heavy rains. The village councillor, Lone Letamo said that they were disappointed as the heavy rains ruined their moment to meet Khama.
He said they had lined up issues about their village to present to the President. He said the village does not have electricity and residents had planned to raise this with the President. Letamo said lack of electricity makes it difficult for nurses to help residents especially at night during an emergency.
He said that another contentious issue is the gravel road that connects Mabesekwa to Tonota. During the rains, residents struggle to go to Tonota or Francistown to seek services as the road is almost impassable.
Letamo said that Mabesekwa is a remote area with no developments and the President’s visit would have given residents the opportunity to share their concerns with him. “Elders want a post office for easy payment of their old age pension and for them to be able to save a little of their earnings for future use. Residents also wanted their health post to be upgraded to a clinic with a maternity ward,” he said.
The President was supposed to be accompanied by the area Member of Parliament and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng. The minister was scheduled to handover a solar panel donated by Tonota Public Library to Mabesekwa health post.