14 May 2014

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele says as a way of strengthening decorum in council chambers, the code of conduct for councillors has been developed.



Officially opening the first Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA) national assembly and 30 years celebration held in Maun, Mr Siele said the need for the development of the code was identified by government in 2004, following recommendations of the second Presidential Commission on the Local Government Structure in Botswana of 2001.



Mr Siele said other tools had been used to guide the operations of councils, such as the councils’ standing orders and councillors’ handbook, which were introduced in 2009.

Minister Siele said these positive developments showed growth in local government and commended all the different stakeholders, especially local government practitioners in Botswana, past and present for their efforts, which had taken them to where they were to-date.



Furthermore, the minister stated that his ministry together with BALA had forged a partnership with the United Nations and Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) on the implementation of the Local Economic Development (LED) strategy to be implemented in four pilot sites of Chobe, Kgalagadi, Francistown and Sowa.



“This process is at an advanced state and I therefore implore you to give this process the necessary support and cooperation for it to be a success,” he said. 


Mr Siele said following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between BALA and Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA), four councils from Botswana would be twinning with four local authorities from Uganda.



He expressed hope that these guidelines would assist in ensuring long term sustainability of municipal partnerships.



The minister further said as a result of the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) project, BALA had facilitated similar partnerships for local authorities with their counterparts in Sweden and the implementation of these partnerships was progressing at various levels.



“It is my hope that reports on these are reaching BALA and the ministry so that we are in a position to assist where possible, such experiences must be documented to ensure sustainability and to further reference material for training and capacity building of local government,” he said.



He commended BALA for coming a long way as they celebrate 30 years as an association of local authorities, further urging them to continue with their good work.



In addition, he praised various committees that had been properly constituted and had started their various assignments, namely; Regional Commission, Local Economic Development Commission, Youth Commission and Welfare Committee. 



“Let me also take this opportunity to thank the private sector for working closely with local authorities in identification, packaging and implementation of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects,” he said.

He said some of the projects included the Lobatse Dairy Project, Mongala Mall in Southern district and Kgatleng Waste Management project and further urged local authorities to emulate those that have made it.  ENDS