28 Nov 2016

 Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane has on Friday presented to Parliament a budget for P7.6 billion proposed for ministry projects and programmes during the National Development Plan (NDP11).
The largest share of this budget is proposed to fund Social Welfare programmes at P5.2 billion, while the development of primary education services has the second largest proposal of P928.3 million.
A total of P922.4million is the third largest share of the budget for funding the local government infrastructurev investment and services, while P517.9 million proposed for tribal administration infrastructure development. Mr Tsogwane said the programmes were geared towards cushioning vulnerable and disadvantaged groups of the society from effects of unemployment and harsh economic conditions.
He said successful implementation of planned programmes would help restore the affected citizens’ dignity and improve their quality of life.
He said a total of eight programmes had been proposed being Ipelegeng (community public works), construction of destitute housing-countrywide, construction of destitute housing at remote area communities, RADP community projects, promotion of early childhood development in remote area communities, development of smart card as well as development of a single social safety register. Other projects are local government infrastructure investment and services, which mostly were spill overs from NDP 10.
 “These include the three village infrastructure projects at Gabane, Kang and Tutume with their design audit being done through Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) in 2016/2017 financial year.
He said the ministry had only two new projects, being the Gaborone City Transfer Station and Sorting Centre and Valuation of Property Rates.
“These projects support strategies for improving and developing infrastructure under the Economy and Employment Thematic Working Group,” he said.
Mr Tsogwane further said the development of primary education services was a programme that supports efforts to expand and provide infrastructure aimed to improve the learning and teaching atmosphere in Primary Schools.
He said the ministry would continue to provide basic infrastructure by constructing classrooms, teachers quarters and toilet blocks during NDP 11, which was in line with the Revised National Policy on Education (RNPE) of 1994 whose main objective is to raise educational standards at all levels.
Mr Tsogwane said due to budgetary constraints, the targeted number of facilities to be constructed during NDP 11 comprised of 279 classrooms, 824 toilets and 361 staff houses. The numbers of facilities were derived from a prioritised backlog of 401 classrooms, 1 280 toilet blocks and 486 staff houses.
The first batch of 122 classrooms, 456 toilet blocks and 125 houses started during the 2016/2017 financial year when the ESP was introduced.
The expectation is that the planned number of facilities will be implemented in two batches within the first two years of NDP 11.
He said the tribal administration infrastructure would address the acute shortage of office accommodation and improve the working conditions of officers within the Department of Tribal Administration, including Dikgosi.
Mr Tsogwane said a proposal had been made to construct another batch of customary courts offices, furniture and vehicles during NDP 11.
He said customary courts offices would be constructed at Serowe, Ramotswa, Mochudi, Maun, Molepolole, Motswedi in Lobatse, Francistown Phase 4 and Letlhakeng. Mr Tsogwane said other offices that fall under the Customary Court Type I and II categories would be constructed across the country especially where there was serious shortage of office accommodation. ENDS