19 Feb 2018

Member of Parliament for Maun East, Mr Konstantinos Markus has revealed that P5 million from Constituency Fund will be use to upgrade internal roads at Disana ward. He said the project was scheduled for 2018/19 financial year. 

He told residents of Boseja North ward during the official opening of the new community centre built by Village Development Committee (VDC) through the support of the community and some business owners.

He said this financial year, they would not benefit from the funding as there were some projects still going on in the ward, hence the need to channel funding towards some wards where there was a need.

However, residents of Disana had long decried unfriendly roads, which they said were dusty and impassable and they had been calling for upgrading.

Mr Markus explained that the constituency was made up of 11 wards and they had to divide the P10 million accordingly and stated that last financial year, Boseja North ward was allocated P450 000 to construct an extension block with three offices at their new plot, which was ongoing and currently at the slab level. 

Furthermore, he revealed that the constituency fund was meant to implement projects, which government could not include in the normal budgetary processes and urged residents to look after the projects to ensure sustainability.

The initiative, he said was meant to augment the National Development Plan (NDP) 11 and focused on developments lacking in the constituencies and would be controlled by constituents. 

Mr Markus also underscored the need for communities to come up with sustainable projects, which could benefit all, adding that the funding was introduced to transform the local economy.

On other issues, the area MP urged residents to unite and work collectively with VDC and leadership to ensure the success and smooth implementation of the projects. 

Since the plot was new, he assured residents that they would be assisted with fencing and construction of a kgotla shelter as one investor had shown interest to help.

Mr Markus also warned VDC members to refrain from actively participating in politics, noting that they should understand that their role was to enhance and drive development.

He said it was the responsibility of the VDC to ensure that constituency community projects were implemented as planned. 

He expressed a concern that some people join VDCs to drive their own agenda, but pleaded with them to stop the practice and serve the community diligently.

Maun Administrative Authority senior social worker, Ms Kerileng Senwamadi emphasised unity amongst the community, leadership and the business community in order to drive developments.

She said together, they could shape and transform the image of their ward by carrying out essential development projects that had been identified and prioritised through the normal development planning process.

She said through partnership with the business community, they could augment government efforts by initiating sustainable big projects which would eventually create jobs for unemployed society.

Ms Senwamadi said development projects were supposed to be led by the community not VDC and urged all to participate when doing the planning. She also commended the ward community for demonstrating the spirit of volunteerism throughout the project.

Boseja North VDC chairperson, Mr John Keesi explained that they used to hold meetings under a tree, but through support of the community, they managed to construct an office.

He also stated that they enjoyed a great support from all government organisations and the business in their vicinity, hence they managed to complete the project and officially opened it. Ends