16 Jun 2014

North West District (NWD) councillors have approved the recurrent budget estimates of P800 million for the financial year 2015/16.

Councillors welcomed the proposed budget during a special meeting noting that it would enable the council to carry out a number of developments in the district. They expressed with that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development could also approve the budget as it was so that the council could account to the needs and aspiration of the communities.

They said if the budget was approved, they would be able to carry out planned council activities such as maintenance of roads which were in bad state. The chairperson of the finance committee, Cllr Duncan Enga said the estimated budget was well consolidated as all the sub councils including the main one forwarded their interest and priorities.

He said although there was a high increase as compared to the last recurrent budget which stood at over P576 million. Cllr Enga noted that the council continues with finances due to unstable economic outlook adding that their own source indicates that the council could only generate less than two percent of revenue which means they depend solely on budget from central government.

He said that shows that they might end up not having any source of revenue. Cllr Enga explained that the financial year 2015/16, Okavango sub district had a target to generate over P2 million while Maun Administrative Authority indicated that they intend to generate over P3 million and the headquarters intends to raise over P4 million.

Meanwhile, last year the council solicited ways to generate revenue for the council hence the formation of a Revenue Generation Committee. The committee was formed to identify new ways and means of generating their own income to supplement the Revenue Support Grant (RSG) from government.

For his part the council chairman, Mr Lathang Molonda said the council had been experiencing above average on their own source. Mr Molonda said recently the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele advised them to step up revenue collection efforts and explore ways of expanding their revenue base.

He said the minister advised them to make their own revenues from rates, property rent, licences and permits issued and interest on investments. He said Maun has a lot of commercial property hence they could start charging rates. ENDS