13 Jul 2014

Lack of funds has frustrated the Makakung Village Development Committee (VDC) to execute its mandate and account to the needs and aspirations of the community.

The VDC chairperson, Mr Elijah Kehepo said in an interview that over the years, they were unable to execute some projects in the village because of financial constraints.

The VDC has five old houses and a butcher which is rented to members of the community for slaughter and selling meat. A cattle is charged P25 while a goat or sheep is charged P15.

He said they generate funds through rentals and the butcher, noting that public servants owe them large sums of money in rentals. The houses rent range between P70 and P250 and they are owed over P3 000.

“We are struggling to establish financially viable projects that can keep us afloat because we have no funds and people are reluctant to pay us,” he added.

Mr Kehepo said the money owed was accumulated over the years, adding that some of the employees have never paid the VDC since they occupied the houses.

He said some employees have disappeared and they were unable to trace them. He further said the committee was failing to organise people and to create a partnership between the community and the public sector for improved service delivery.

The VDC’s function is to identify and prioritise village needs as well as to liaise with politicians and local authorities. He said their aim was to renovate some of their houses to accommodate public servants so that residents could access services closer.

He said they have asked the council to assist because they want to start sustainable projects which could better the lives of the community.

The VDC secretary, Ms Uhuhumina Kazehuika said their houses were in a bad state, adding that the houses need major maintenance as some had become breeding grounds for bats.

Ms Kazehuika also decried lack of accommodation for new employees in the village, noting that some of them were accommodated at Semboyo.

“We want our officers to be housed in our village so that we enjoy services closer and not travel long distances,” she said.

She also decried the high rate of unemployment in the village. She said most young people have enrolled in the Ipelegeng programme while some have applied for poverty eradication packages.

Most VDCs throughout the district are owed thousands, but appear unable to seek the recourse of the law. ENDS