Onalenna Modikwa
8 January 2009
BOBONONG — In their quest to have two Members of Parliament, Babirwa want the two villages of Moletemane and Tsetsebjwe, as well as surrounding cattleposts, ranches and farmlands that were carved off to Tswapong North by the last Delimitation Commission, to be returned.
It is calculated that this will sufficiently raise the Bobirwa population for the sub-district to merit two MPs. During a briefing of the constituency by their MP, Shaw Kgathi, Chief Mmirwa Malema said if the two villages were returned to where they belong, the Babirwa dream of having two MPs would be realised, and this could facilitate socio-economic development in their district.
Kgosi Malema said their wish to have two MPs was made impossible by the 'carting off' of the two villages.
"If they could be returned, our population would increase and therefore qualify to have two constituencies," the Kgosi said.
His views were echoed by the Councillor for Mathathane, Ishmael Legwaila, who said the fact that the two villages were still serviced by the Bobirwa Sub-District Council made the case for their return to Bobirwa all the more cogent and that the matter should make the agenda of the next delimitation exercise.
Earlier, Kgosi Malema had prevailed upon his subjects to pray for peace in Zimbabwe.
"I wish we could pray for peace in Zimbabwe and for President Robert Mugabe to step down," he said.
"We had hopes in him when he first assumed power; but he has abused the country whose democracy and economy were once the envy of Africa.
We appeal to him to hear the cry of Zimbabweans. His time is up."
He said the Mugabe regime had the potential to cause tensions between the Botswana Government and Babirwa because of worsening crime resulting from Zimbabweans fleeing economic woes in their country.
"Because the Mmamabaka borderpost has not been opened yet, Zimbabweans jump illegally into Botswana," said Malema. "During the last round of kgotla meetings we addressed in the villages along the border with Zimbabwe, people complained bitterly about cattle rustling and the theft of other livestock, and their complaints are genuine."
More people had abandoned their farmlands and cattleposts for fear of Zimbabwean illegals attacking them.
The situation was so serious that the Shashe River valley was now lying fallow after being almost completely de-populated.
"But those Zimbabweans are forced by circumstances back home to commit crimes here," he said. "If we can pray for them, the situation could change for the better."
Babirwa also praised their MP for addressing them on the state of affairs in their constituency, a first for any of their MPs, they said. They suggested that such meetings should be held annually.
They took the opportunity to express concern that there was insufficient land for commercial plots in their area, saying some of them had applied 10 years ago.
This unavailability of land and slow rate of connection to utilities were a hindrance to the economic development of Bobirwa.
This shortage of land, including grazing land, existed while some commercial ranches remained unused, they pointed out. Such ranches, they said, should be sequestrated by the government.
The meeting was attended mainly by Babirwa working away from home.
Public officers from different departments also attended to answer questions dealing with their respective areas of responsibility.
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