The ministry of local government and Chieftainship will purchase road construction equipment in an effort to expand the network of rural roads, especially in the mountain parts of the country.

This was revealed by the Minister, Dr. Ponts’o Sekatle at a public gathering held at Pheellong, Ha-Mipti in Qacha’s nek on Thursday.

The minister said her ministry is planning to purchase road construction equipment like trucks and others in future to create a network of rural roads in the mountainous parts of the country.

She said the initiative would enable the public to have free movement from one area to another, hence simplifying their lives. She also noted that a foot bridge over the Senqu-Senqunyane river would be constructed in this financial year as well as the Mohlapiso foot bridge that would also be
constructed in due course.

Dr. Sekatle said the installation of electricity is no longer a problem in Qacha’s nek as it is now being installed in villages around town, and noted that the initiative would be extended to other villages outside town in future. She further appealed to community members whose villages do not have access to electricity to be patient.

The minister however, urged the Pheellong community to strongly engage in growing fruit trees that she commended they could also generate income for their families.

Speaking at the same gathering, Chairperson of the Letloepe Community Council, Mr. Thabo Khaha said some of their council’s achievements comprised construction of silt traps and planting of forest trees to prevent soil erosion and construction of rural roads that is still in process.

He also noted that the council has engaged on a long term campaign of cleaning the town, where district business people are hired interchangeably to keep it clean, while generating employment on the other hand.

He however, said their council is faced with a problem of preventing burning of range lands by unknown people, saying the malpractice hinders some of their developmental projects.

The gathering was aimed at sensitising communities about the ministry’s work
and responsibilities and its achievements and plans following the 2007 general elections.

It was attended by chiefs, community councilors, community members and school children.

SOURCE: LENA 30/08/2007