02 Apr 2017

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane has clarified the recent confusion over the P10 million constituency funding for facilitating small scale projects in all 57 constituencies.

The minister said in a kgotla meeting addressed by President, Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama Khama in Kopong recently.

He said upon learning of the confusion over the funds, they have since decided to write down guidelines on the usage of the funds and that the guidelines would then be availed to all councils.

He therefore explained that the funds should not be used to fund income-generating projects such as brick moulding, crèches, milling plants, bakeries among others, but should be used strictly for small developmental projects which often lag behind in villages and yet feasible to undertake such as solar lights, community halls, staff houses.

Mr Tsogwane therefore appealed to the village leadership such as Village Development Committee (VDC) members, councillors and MPs to work together and have a common understanding when prioritising the projects.

He also highlighted that the leadership should not try to divide the funds equally among villages or wards, but should rather prioritise village that were lagging behind in develoments.

He explained that these funds would be allocated in a yearly circle and cautioned them against squeezing projects in a single financial year.

Earlier, VDC chairperson, Mr Thato Rabepa had said the VDC was disappointed at how the constituency funds were allocated at the council level, saying the council had not granted them their wishes as they were told that projects that they had wanted were struck off their priority list.

He said they had asked for income-generating projects in their constituency in the form of a milling plant, a bakery and brick moulding projects.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Michael Molefe of Kopong reported on the bad state of  internal roads in Kopong, which he said were worsened by the recent heavy rains. 

He therefore requested government to construct a road linking Kopong and Bokaa as well as another one linking Kopong and Gakutlo, saying the roads were quite short and could reduce congestion on the A1 road.

Responding to Kgosi Molefe’s pleas, Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Kitso Mokaila stated that his ministry would maintain existing roads as they were mostly damaged by the recent rains. 

He said although they had not considered to construct roads that link the three villages, it was food for thought for the future. ENDS