Member of Parliament for Maun West Constituency, Caterpillar Hikuama has opined that Maun as the gateway to the Okavango Delta and a cultural heartland deserves the status and recognition that match the same.
Speaking during a Kgotla meeting in Maun’s Riverside ward this week, acknowledged the poor road conditions in Maun and noted that the town’s state of infrastructure need to have the aesthetics that appeal to tourists.
“Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta and a cultural heartland and it deserves recognition that matches its potential, thus gazetting Maun would pave the way for strategic investments and infrastructure upgrades, allowing us to fully showcase its tourism appeal and uplift the community,” said Hikuama.
During the meeting, Riverside residents raised pressing concerns about infrastructure, education, and community development. They highlighted the deteriorating state of roads in Riverside, emphasising the need for proper maintenance, especially given the area’s proximity to Maun’s central business district.
Abandoned residential plots, initially purchased for commercial purposes, have become hotspots for criminal activities due to neglect. The lack of adequate street lighting further exacerbates safety concerns, with calls for the installation of tower lights to illuminate the neighborhood.
Meanwhile, Tsamaiso Motseela, a resident at Riverside appealed for the reestablishment of the Village Development Committee (VDC) garden, seen as a potential source of employment and community engagement. “That garden could be used for various projects and it could even be transformed into a community hall that could benefit especially the youth in our area,” he said.
Another resident, Mmajalwa Siku raised alarms about the burning of river reeds, which has led to an increase in snake infestations in residential areas, posing risks to people in the community. “Every time the river reeds are burned, we start seeing more snakes around our homes, It is a real danger, especially for our children. We need a safer, better way of managing the riverbanks,” she said.
Ndobano Lokae, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) Chairperson at Thamalakane Primary School, advocated for granting PTA more authority to manage school affairs. Additionally, he called for the reinstatement of corporal punishment, citing concerns over student discipline.
In response to the concern of drugs and alcohol abuse in the area, Hikuama emphasised the importance of community self-reflection in addressing such issues highlighting that change begings with self. He urged residents to take proactive steps toward change rather than relying solely on government intervention.
Hikuama also responded to the plea for the reinstatement of corporal punishment by pointing out that private schools, despite not using such disciplinary measures, often maintain high levels of student discipline. He urged stakeholders to reflect on what might be lacking in government schools, suggesting that there are alternative approaches to instilling order and good behavior among learners.
“Private schools do not use corporal punishment, yet their students are generally well-behaved and so we need to reflect on what we are not doing right in our public schools since discipline does not only come from the stick there are other effective ways to guide our children,” he said.
Regarding the lack of protective clothing for Ipelegeng workers, he assured that the matter would be addressed. Specially elected Councillor, Mavis Moruimang concluded the meeting by noting that many of the issues raised had been discussed in previous full council sessions and are currently under review for resolution.
