Councils Fight Over Boundaries

Tefo Pheage | Monday November 28, 2016 16:29

The KDC chairperson, Mpho Morolong said he was not aware of the development as he was never briefed by anybody on the matter. “I do not know that SEDC will be installing traffic lights in Kgatleng. It is news to me. I will follow the matter up and come back to you,” he told The Monitor in a brief interview.

Morolong was not the only one who was clueless. So was his counterpart at SEDC, Phenyo Segokgo, who expressed  ignorance about the project. “I cannot grant any interview on the matter as I do not have information. Please speak to our public relations (PR) officers as they are the ones who have sent media invitations. They might have more clues on that,” he said.

The PR officer referred this publication to the council’s principal electrical officer, John Motshetla who said the project, led by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, is part of the Ministry’s goal to maintain all the roads within the greater Gaborone region, which are all leading into the capital city. “The three councils are Kweneng, KDC and SEDC whose electrical engineers meet occasionally to discuss the issues and the convener is the Ministry,” Motshetla said. Asked why the SEDC ended up in KDC, he (Motshetla) said the Ministry, for some reasons unknown to them decided to engage the SEDC on the Mmamashia-Oodi project.

“I do not know why. I think those are the questions you can direct to the Ministry,” he said,  adding that what he can share is that they will be completing the project before Christmas this year. Morolong said people will have to account.

“I am very disappointed that such developments can be carried out in my district by another district council without my knowledge. I am the custodian of this council and it’s frustrating and infuriating to see developments which I cannot account for. I have taken up the matter. I am demanding answers,” he continued.

“I am not against developments and I cannot stop developments but due process must be followed,” he added.  When contacted, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Kitso Mokaila fumed at The Monitor’s call without even listening to the question saying he was being disturbed. “I don’t want to talk to you; you are disturbing me, bye-bye,” he said before hanging up.