21 Mar 2016

The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Frans Van Der Westhuizen, ahs told Parliament that Nata service centre is fully functional.

He said the service centre had been functional since August 2012 and it operated as a complimentary structure to Tutume Sub-district whose main function was to bring basic services closer to communities around Nata and Gweta area.

Nata service centre, he said, had a council staff compliment of 22. 

He said the centre had a total fleet of eight vehicles, adding the centre manager (at D4 salary scale) coordinated the activities of the centre.

 the oddicer, he said had a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and he performs his duties both as Architect and centre manager.

“It should be noted that in addition there are other government departments serving there service centre, amongst them crop production, veterinary service, Out of School education and training, Botswana Post, Departmemt of Wildlife and National Parks”, he said. Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen said other departments are Water Utilities Corporation, Sub Land Board, Tribal Administration, Roads Department, Central Transport Organisation, and Civil and National Registration.

Furthermore, the Office of District Commissioner provides weekly mobile services at the service centre.

Nata-Gweta, Member of Parliament Polson Majaga, had asked Minister of Local Government and Rural Development if he was aware that Nata Service Centre was a white elephant and that, it faced acute shortage of staff and resources; he should further state the number of staff operating the centre, and Centre Manager’s qualifications and salary scale.