Francistown — The Principal District Officer (development) Gobe Macha has said that a plot has been secured for the construction of a community junior secondary school at the Gerald Estates location.

He said the project was included in the National Development Plan 10(NDP 10) but because of the current economic recession, it has been put on hold adding that it will be resuscitated as soon as funds become available.

Macha was responding to a petition that was handed to the DC's office by Cornelius Gopolang, who was an independent council candidate for Kanana Ward in Francistown, citing lack of developments in the area.

He also said that a plot has been secured near the Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) houses in Gerald for the construction of a police station and 90 police staff houses.

"The industrial plots are currently being serviced in Gerald and we expect that the servicing will be completed around June 2010. That is when the industrial plots may be allocated. After that construction of shops or shopping complex can be expected to start," said Macha.

On her part, Francistown City Council (FCC) clerk, Kesentseng Kebabonye said that the council is busy with the construction of a maternity wing at the Gerald Estates clinic.

"The project, which is now at 80 percent, will be completed next month. Come January 2010, the facility will be fully operational. The clinic is planned for 24 hour operation next financial year if resources permit," said Kebabonye.

She added that they acknowledge that the collection of refuse has not been as frequent as the council may have wished due to various constraints. She said refuse collection would remain one of the council's biggest challenges because there is no provision for an increase in the refuse collection fleet.

"As for the tarring of existing internal roads and the provision of street lights, they can only be done as and when funds become available," Kebabonye said.

In the petition, Gopolang and Gerald residents complained about lack of a shopping mall, recreational facilities, civic and community plots as well as a market place in the area. Gopolang, who garnered 424 votes, lost Kanana ward to Ace Ntheetsang of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), who got 452 votes. Botswana Congress Party (BCP)'s Thabo Nyambe got 158 votes while the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) got 68 votes, followed by the Botswana National Front (BNF) with 28 votes.