24 Apr 2018

Some residents of Pelotelele ward in the Francistown East Constituency have expressed their displeasure at their Ward Development Committee’s (WDC) proposed developments.

Speaking during a Kgotla meeting addressed by Pelotelele WDC on April 23 in Francistown, some residents complained that many of them were in the dark regarding procurement methods for services and goods carried out under the  Constituency Development Fund.
 

They also said they were not aware of what developments were earmarked for their area and what criteria had been used to select contractors who would carry out such projects.

Residents were also united in criticising the idea of a proposed cultural village project, which was to be built on a WDC plot by the old Lekgaba Pottery.

They said the cultural village was not viable in any way as many of such villages across the country failed to even make money for their communities.

The residents also argued that because they were not properly consulted when these developmental ideas were conceptualised, they could have come up with a better money making ideas than a cultural village.

On another issue concerning the area’s development, they asked the WDC why the proposed storm water drainage culverts by the taxi and combi rank could not cross the tarred Ntshe road and disposed off into the Ntshe River.

They said the current situation with those culverts were not effective during rainy seasons even if it was to be redone properly.

Residents were responding to the Pelotelele WDC chairperson, Mr Eric Mabengano who had briefed residents that the ward had been allocated P590 000 from the constituency fund to build a cultural village and storeroom, which would be rented by tourists.

The cultural village would also get a well-built shelter to host weddings and other events at a cost.

On the issue of extension of water drainage culverts, Mr Mabengano informed the residents that the project had been allocated P270 000 and that the city council engineers had informed them that if the water drainage was to be shifted from the initial proposal, the budget would skyrocket.
 The city council engineers, he said had informed them that for the water to be drained into the Ntshe River, there would be need to damage part of the road and that would be too expensive to carry out.

He refuted claims that the tendering processes was flawed, arguing that all due processes had been followed in finding bidders for the proposed developmental projects.

Mr Mabengano reminded residents that around December 2017, information pertaining to these projects was posted at different kiosks and shops around Pelotelele ward, informing interested youth business owners to try their luck.

Other developments that Mr Mabengano said would be carried out in the area include the construction of a tower light located at the north side of the ward near the football pitch valued at P390 000 and the committee offices.

On other issues, Mr Mabengano complained of empty plots and or unfinished structures, saying they were a breeding ground for criminals.

Mr Mabengano said he was happy that the city council had begun taking action against owners of such plots.

He raised concern about the low attendance of kgotla meetings by Pelotelele residents, noting that many were missing out on very important messages by not attending kgotla meetings.

The kgotla meetings, he said afforded them an opportunity to consult residents on which developments would be brought to their area and how they would benefit them.