17 Mar 2016

Kweneng District Council chairperson, Mr Jeffrey Sibisibi has expressed happiness over the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), saying it will contribute significantly towards boosting the local economy through sustainable development projects aimed at stimulating economic growth in the district. 

Speaking during the opening of the Kweneng District Council on Monday, Mr Sibisibi expressed happiness over the fact that more local businesses were expected to grow significantly through creation of more employment opportunities.

He said ESP was the government’s new robust agenda aimed at stimulating the economy, accelerating job creation and empowerment of citizens and promoting economic diversification. 

The Kweneng district, he said, would benefit from the programme through implementation of 11 infrastructural projects that were to be implemented in the 2016/2017 financial year. The projects, Mr Sisisibi highlighted, would go a long way in stimulating the local economy.

He said the proposed projects earmarked for the district was the 21 kilometre internal roads, storm water drainage as well as street lighting at Gabane,   backlog eradication at of Takatokwane, Moshaweng, Mogoditshane, Molefe school in Kopong and Moshawaeng primary schools.   

 He said in an effort to ensure equitable distribution of projects to as many locals constructors as possible, a decision was taken for building works to be separated from electrical works so that a number of individuals could benefit

Other project, he said, would include construction of three customary courts at Gakgatla, Sesung and Kweneng. 

The council was also informed about the six months counselling services for 114 Matsha Senior Secondary School students held at the Molepolole College of Education. The students  were part of the victims of a fatal road accident which claimed nine lives and scores of others injured.

The council was further briefed about the office of the district commissioner which has embarked on sensitisation workshops in some areas of Kweneng aimed at imparting knowledge on ESP.

The council chairperson appealed to the council to consider electing an additional member to the audit committee that was currently operating with four members contrary to the audit committee charter that requires sitting members to be five. 

On other issues, Mr Sibisibi told the meeting that despite the noble initiative aimed at creating a platform for reporting issues of corruption, malpractice and maladministration through the establishment of a tip-off anonymous service, the service remained unutilised with few reported cases.

He implored councillors to sensitise the community about the availability of the facility, and encouraged them to utilise the service by reporting suspicious divergence from good governance practice.     

He also briefed the council  about the long awaited Molepolole sewege project that was reported to be at design stage and anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.

On the newly completed bus terminal, the council chair said the council was consulting with property owners adjacent to the facility to assess damages to their properties. He said they were also working on the modalities of operationalising the occupation of the market stalls.

 He said the council has also started consulting with stakeholders such as public transport operators to plan for operating the facility. 

Meanwhile the  council has approved the proposed 2016/2017 budget totaling over P343 million. Ends