30 Aug 2017

North East District council chairperson, Ms Florah Mpetsane says the council should come up with other sources of revenue to augment the support grant.

Speaking at a full council session in Masunga on August 28, she stated that it had been noted during the project review exercise that district councils sources of revenue had been decreasing, adding that revenue support grant would continue to decline.

She called on the council to come up with other sources of revenue and other development strategies such as Public Private Partnerships.

Ms Mpetsane stated that the district recorded significant crime from April to June 2017, and that criminal syndicates engaged in breaking into government properties targeting computers.

She highlighted that Masukwane, Mapoka, Kgari, Ramokgwebana, Mabudzane and Mowana primary schools as well as Ramoja Junior Secondary School were broken into and computers were stolen.

The chairperson noted that Botswana Police Service would continue to resuscitate and strengthen neighbourhood watch committees, surveillance teams and patrols and also address kgotla meetings to engage all stakeholders to curb crime levels.

“I urge all of us to come together and fight crime to make North East District a safe home for all of us.”

Ms Mpetsane further said the road traffic situation in the district was worrisome as six fatal accidents were recorded from April to June 2017.  

She said 1 002 road traffic violations were also registered in the period raging from over speeding, drunken driving, unlicensed drivers and failure to obey road marks and signs.

She noted that Tshesebe and Masunga police stations managed to apprehend 1 846 illegal immigrants, adding that it was unfortunate that some citizens hide illegal immigrants and helped them evade the law.

The chairperson cautioned members of the public that to be found with an illegal immigrant was an offence

She said this financial year 40 YDF projects were funded at the tune of P 3 947 501 from the budget allocation of P4 million.

She said the funds were used to finance backlog applications from the last financial year, adding that the 40 funded projects were anticipated to create employment for about 80 youth.

However, Ms Mpetsane said the district was still experiencing low loan collection rate despite reminding beneficiaries to honour their contractual obligations.

The chairperson said the district was also faced with human wildlife conflict with 59 animal reports received and attended to.

She said 35.78 hectares of subsistence farming was damaged by wildlife with an addition of 0.40 hectares of horticulture.

She stated that as from April 2017  over P1 million of damages caused by animals was paid.

Ms Mpetsane called on the district to start preparing for the independence celebrations, noting that the council budget was P294 245. ENDS