17 Jun 2015

Countries participating in the ongoing Commonwealth Local Government Conference will learn good practice from each other that will shape a new vision for local government. 

Addressing delegations to the conference Tuesday June 16, Local Government and Rural Development Minister Mr Slumber Tsogwane said the event will enable participating countries to deliver value effectively in the changing global context.

He said Botswana will share its insights on local economic development and show the partnership of the Botswana Government, United Nations and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum in action.

He said global economic development practice recognises that local economic development is a critical component in the mix of development approaches that are capable of initiating and sustaining inclusive national economic growth and poverty eradication.

Mr Tsogwane noted that the local economic development approach places emphasis on developing a national policy framework that enables central government to facilitate local institutions, local economic actors and communities, under the leadership of local governments, to identify their needs, understand their resource endowments, mobilise resources and take joint action to grow and diversify their local economies.

He said all countries stand to benefit from the high level interactive discussions of the conference.

He said the discussions were further expected to shape the Commonwealth Local Government Forum policies to position local government even more firmly in the discussions on how sustainable development could be delivered. ENDS