25 May 2016

 

Central government has been encouraging local authorities to come up with new initiative to help boost sources of revenue for local authorities as the Revenue Support Grant has been decreasing with every passing financial year since the recession.

The decrease in Revenue Support Grant has therefore caused financial constraints for local authorities and delays in development programmes.

It is against this backdrop that the South East District Council (SEDC) recently launched two projects aimed at increasing the district’s source of income to overcome financial constraints.

The district launched the Chairman’s Trust and the BBTN company on Saturday.

Speaking at the launch, SEDC senior assistant council secretary, Mr Steven Motlogelwa said the Chairman’s Trust was aimed at addressing social aspects of the community. With a strained budget, the council has not been able to adequately assist some of the society’s less privileged members.

Some of the trust’s duties will be giving out scholarships and addressing environmental issues by carrying out campaigns.

Mr Motlogelwa also explained that BBTN was formed with the sole intent of making money for the council.

An eight-member board of directors will run the company.

The company has already identified parts of the district that can be a possible source of income and employment for its communities.

These include a piece of land to be developed into a shopping complex in Ramotswa and 70 hectares of land near Magope Hill that is hoped to be developed into a park, a lodging facility and a conference centre.

The company is also contemplating the development of student accommodation in Tlokweng because of the growing number of educational institutions in Gaborone.

The SEDC chairperson, Mr Phenyo Segokgo said instead of throwing a chairperson’s ball, the funds would be invested into the Chairman’s Trust.

He said the district had to come up with activities to increase the funds in order to be able to help more people.

He also informed the gathering that the company was formed with the consultation of the business communities both Ramotswa and Tlokweng, Village Development Committees and the traditional leaders.

Mr Segokgo said that the district aspired to one day depend less on the central government for funding because it would be self-sustaining.

For his part, SEDC council secretary, Mr Goleba Kgari said he believed the two initiatives, together with other government initiatives, would lessen the problem of shortage of funds for the council if fully implemented.

He also said he believed the initiatives would adequately contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goal.

Mr Kgari encouraged various stakeholders to share notes and ideas, as they needed one another for the betterment of the lives of the communities. ENDS