POLOKWANE - Thembi Nkadimeng, Senior Manager of Communication Services for the Office of the Premier this week strongly reacted to allegations that government is not doing enough to fund the solar eclipse celebrations on December 4.

This was in response to an article carried in the Zoutpansberger on October 11 wherein the Municipal Manager of the Musina Municipality, Mr Abram Luruli severely criticised both national and provincial governments for lack of funding.

"Before clarifying these scathing allegations it will be wise to advise the Musina Municipality that they are not the only municipality in the province where the eclipse will be experienced either in full or to a certain degree. This makes one wonder why only Musina decided to attack the government on unfounded allegations, which are misleading not only to the people of Musina but the whole province and the whole country," Nkadimeng said.

In putting the record straight, Nkadimeng stated that it needs to be mentioned that the government is sponsoring and hosting solar eclipse activities not only in Musina but also in other parts of the province. He said that the management of Musina should be aware of the government event that took place at the Kruger National Park where members of the media and other stakeholders were addressed by the Premier of Limpopo, Adv. Ramatlhodi and the CEO of the Tourism Board, Mr Edgar Muswana. This took place on October 18 where government availed its plans to all who attended the function. Members of the media and other stakeholders were also taken to several eclipse viewing camps.

In regard to Luruli's statement that members of the Musina Municipal Council have visited Zambia to find out how the Zambian government participated in the eclipse events of the past, Nkadimeng said that Luruli never made any mention of their visit to either the provincial or the national government, which he accused of being reluctant to fund activities in Musina. Nkadimeng also stated that Luruli never made mentioned that he is a member of the Provincial Eclipse Committee under the Limpopo Tourism where he shares ideas with other representatives from all the municipalities including Tzaneen, Thulamela, Mopani and Mutale. He added that Luruli also seems not to know that the Limpopo Tourism, the Department of Education together with the Tshivhase Foundation and Boston City Campus of Thohoyandou are some of the institutions making sure the glasses are available before December 4.

"The 'honourable' manager, Mr Luruli said their municipality's biggest challenge is the unwillingness of the government to help fund the celebrations hence going out for a loan of R3.2 million. Mr Luruli should find other reasons to justify the expenditures of the municipality rather that blaming the government, Nkadimeng said.

Nkadimeng also stated that irresponsible journalism occurred when the newspaper only reported one side of the story. He said that two or more sides of the story should have been taken into account to create a balance. In regard to this, Nkadimeng said that the Limpopo Provincial Government is contributing R200 000 towards events of people with disabilities that will be celebrated in Musina. Apart from this, government will also sponsor amongst others activities in Kruger National Park, Masisi and Mutale camps. At present government has also entered into an extensive project to reconstruct roads and bridges – a project for which millions have been budgeted for.

As for educating the people of the province, Nkadimeng said that Limpopo Tourism would put adverts in both print and electronic media as part of an awareness campaign on the solar eclipse of 2002. These adverts will be carried in different media, especially the media that reaches all the people in the eclipse zone from the second week of November. The adverts will concurrently take place together with the planned road shows. The road shows will focus on all strategic areas such as schools, hospitals and Chieftain kraals. It will provide face-to-face communication, which is imperative as most of the places are rural and faced with illiteracy problem. Leaflets and brochures are ready and will be made available to all the people. Municipalities are also taking part in the campaign.

As for the Department of Health and Welfare, Nkadimeng stated that the department plans to provide eyewear, as well as to make sure that their fight against malaria is running smoothly. An awareness campaign will be in place as well as the distribution of information material in all the areas. The information and the whole fight against malaria will protect both the visitors and the local people even long after the Solar Eclipse. Nkadimeng also said that Limpopo Tourism would provide viewing glasses to all the people in rural areas from the third week of November. The aim is to supply the glasses free of charge to people who cannot afford buying them who are staying in the eclipse zone, particularly in the 100% solar eclipse zone. Distributions will be done in different areas including schools and already there are about 2000 glasses that are going to be supplied at Magona Village, one of the camps where foreign and local artists will perform. In addition, more than R90 000 will be used for Eclipse activities.