06 Apr 2014

Parliament has adopted the motion that requested government to consider establishing a constituency development fund.

The mover of the motion, South East South MP, Mr Odirile Motlhale said there was need for government to establish a constituency development fund following the centralisation development fund model that left gaps in the implementation of small projects.

He said the intitiative  would enable MPs to undertake community development projects within their constituencies.

He said allocated funds under the proposed arrangement would be intended for development of constituencies based on their respective needs, adding the funds could be used to undertake minor community projects such as maintenance of fences, access roads and drilling of community boreholes.

Mr Motlhale said the fund would also help bridge the gap through provision of basic services at ungazzetted settlements where a huge number of the rural poor resided such as masimo and meraka where they needed some services which government was unable to provide because they were ungazzetted.

He said establishment of the fund would not take away the roles of local government and that there would be policies in place to ensure that money did not go to waste.

“Once the fund is implemented, we will ensure there are checks and balances,” he said.

Supporting the motion, MP for Mahalapye East, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said the fund would assist in the implementation of small projects that were not catered for in the national budget. She said the idea was good in the sense that the constituencies would prioritise on projects.

Okavango MP, Mr Bagalatia Arone said the proposal was long overdue adding that it would assist communities to make decisions for themselves. He said the centralisation approach of government created disparities amongst communities.

Letlhakeng East MP, Mr Liakat Kabley said the proposed arrangement would ensure that funds were not returned to government at the end of financial year as constituencies would have priority lists of the projected they wished.

For his part, Tonota North MP, Mr Fidelis Molao said the arrangement would  make a big impact on pushing projects that were overlooked when budgeting for bigger projects. He said it was important to put in place strategies of how it would be administered.

Maun  West MP, Mr Tawana Moremi said measures should be put in place to ensure that the fund was audited .

Meanwhile, Kanye North MP, Mr Kentse Rammidi said he had reservations about the establishment of the fund as it would trample on the responsibilities given to district councils. He was of the idea that councils should administer the fund becausethey were better placed to know which developments were needed and where.

He argued that if Parliament felt that local government structures at council level were failing, then it would be better to beef them up rather than to take away responsibilities from them to the constituency offices.

Serowe South MP, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi argued that governments were stronger at points of application such as councils. She said should the fund be established, there would be no reason behind the principle of having councils which would lead to disintegration of government.

She said MPs should make their presence felt by being present at their constituencies when developments are planned for. ENDS