27 Jun 2016

Ghanzi councillors say lack of monitoring causes collapse of government funded projects. 

Councillors raised their concerns during a full council meeting addressed by the Presidential Inspectorate Task Team. 

They indicated that projects, which were established and left unmonitored collapsed slowly as beneficiaries never had any contact with officers to assist on the operation of the project. 

Councillor Bashi Thite noted that projects needed to be monitored frequently. 

He said there should be feedback and accountability from both officers and beneficiaries. 

Nominated councillor, Ms Dineo Swartz, said there was need for mentorship when beneficiaries were funded to avoid failure of projects. 

Ms Swartz said youth needed mentors who could assist them in getting off ground their business, indicating that some youths could not have successful businesses without a mentor. 

Ms Swartz also said decentralisation of services could assist, saying it was discouraging as people went for services as far as Maun and Gaborone. 

On issue of land, which was of great concern for youth businesses, Councillor Bashi Thite said there was evidence that some plots had been allocated and not serviced for years. 

He said government should look into that as many youths needed those plots to operate in. 

The inspectorate was in Ghanzi District to inspect projects funded by government as well as evaluate and appreciate challenges incurred by beneficiaries. 

The team led by Mr Peter Siele, also sought to get feedback and ideas on how best to improve programmes and projects funded by government. Ends