22 Mar 2017

Gaborone mayor, Mr Kagiso Thutlwe has called council administration to ensure that the development of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) becomes a reality.

Officiating at the beginning of a full council meeting in Gaborone on March 20, he said he was concerned with the snail’s pace of implementing the much needed developments through the PPP agreement.

Such projects include developing three plots using the PPP method to develop the plots for chamber, offices, civic hall, offices and retail and transport orientated hub.

He said since embarking on the possibility of developing such projects, five companies have so far shown interest in partnering with Gaborone City Council (GCC).

The partnership agreements are expected to be finalised by June, July and December, respectively.

Regarding revenue collection by council, he expressed concern over failure to raise adequate income by the counci.

The budgeted revenue collection of the council was P35 million, but the council has collected P16.7million.

The mayor said rates were budgeted at P98.4 million, but the collection only stood at P64.8 million, while the budgeted revenue support grant was P216 million and the ministry only managed to released P207 million.

On housing, he  called upon councillors to sensitise constituents about services such as plots conversion from certificate of rights to fixed period state grant that he said would increase a sense of security of ownership and recognition by owners.

Mr Thutlwe also said procurement of poverty eradication packages was ongoing in Gaborone and nearing completion and that implementation of alternative packages was on course.

He said alternative packages included catering, beauty therapy, tent hire, children entertainment, hair salon, textile machinery and materials, laundry, upholstery and music.

He further  noted that beneficiaries continue to face many challenges such as inadequate operational spaces, market saturation, lack of commitment on the side of beneficiaries and inadequate marketing strategies.

Mr Thutlwe called upon councillors and staff members to collectively ensure constituents benefit from the programme that government identified as a priority to improve the lives of Batswana.

On other issues, the mayor stated that they continue to register persistent malnutrition cases and numbers have increased from a minimum of four to six in Block 9 and 65 in Old Naledi.

“Despite extensive education the children miss appointments, hence increasing mortality rate and let us work together to help reduce malnutrition rate,” said  Mr Thutlwe.

He highlighted that council continued to execute its mandate of assisting needy members of the community and this quarter they had registered 1 636 beneficiaries from different social safety nets.

Regards Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), he said the programme had in 2015 accelerated job creation by implementing deferred projects.

He said although most projects promoted diversification in the agricultural sector, they had managed to construct classrooms, toilets and teachers’ quarters at Ithuteng, Mophane, Boswa and Masa primary schools.

Mayor Thutlwe said Gaborone District had benefited from Ipelegeng since inception and it had continually improved living standards of communities.

“The only challenge we are facing is reluctance by some beneficiaries to perform. Let me take this opportunity to appeal to honourable members to assist in supervision of Ipelegeng workers,” he said.

He lamented that drugs and substance abuse continued to rob many youth futures and the council should  play a leading role to address the calamity. ENDS