21 May 2014

Francistown West MP, Dr Habaudi Hobona has urged members of Botsalano Ward Development Committee (WDC) to be transparent in everything they do.

Addressing a kgotla meeting at the ward on May 19, Dr Hobona said the WDC should take a leading role in conducting its affairs in a proper and transparent manner and should always be accountable to the people it led.

The MP was responding to concerns raised by residents that since their WDC was voted into office almost five years ago, they had never called a meeting to update the people about ongoing projects and financial status.

One of the residents, Ms Cheneso Sebonego, asked what happened to the project for which the WDC had been allocated a plot to mould bricks and construct houses that they would rent out to generate funds.

“We have never been update about the status of the project,” she said. She raised concerns about the questionable criteria for hiring of Ipelegeng workers, which is also done by WDC.

She said although the hiring should be done on a rotational basis there are people who stay on the program for months. Another resident, Ms Mosetsana Tlhakane, accused the WDC of putting their personal interests ahead of those of the people and failing to properly advise social welfare officers on which people are in need of social grants and support.

She added that to date they have not received any response on their applications for enrolment into poverty eradication programs. “It came as a shock for us to learn that some WDC members have been trained and given equipment to start their poverty eradication projects.I think the WDC is not fair at all. It seems they don’t represent the interests of the people,” said Ms Tlhakane.

Mr Barulaganyi Mooketsi complained that patients in the area are made to collect their ARV’s in Tatitown clinic even though they have their own clinic. Ends