15 Mar 2017

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is working jointly with other stakeholders from the Sustainable Environment Technical Working Group (SETWG) of National Development Plan (NDP11) to prepare strategies and programmes that will promote sustainable waste management during the plan period.

Assistant Minister, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen told Parliament that despite an elaborate NDP 11 budget proposal which included among others, funding the construction of new landfills and the maintenance of existing landfill facilities countrywide, funds were only approved for construction of Gaborone Transfer Station.

The minister said despite the budgetary constraints faced under NDP 11, the ministry recognises that efforts of government alone will not be sufficient to deliver strategies and programmes that will drive the sustainable environment pillar of NDP 11.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen said the ministry will engage other ministries, the private sector, civil society and development partners for their active involvement in assisting or partnering with local authorities to ensure sustainable management is achieved during NDP 11.

He was answering a question posed by Specially Elected MP, Mr Mephato Reatile who had asked how the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development intends to develop waste management infrastructure in the country during NDP 11 as nothing much is provided in the plan other than the establishment of Gaborone Transfer Station only. ENDS