07 Jun 2018

Leshibitse Village Development Committee (VDC) has been identified as one of three successful ones in the country.

The leader of a cabinet team on a VDC benchmarking mission, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, said Leshibitse VDC was among the three chosen to share their success stories.

Speaking during an interactive session with VDC members recently, Dr Venson-Moitoi said while other VDCs were going through challenges such as lack of funds and teamwork, Leshibitse VDC had been able to overcome such.

She applauded VDC members for their efforts more so that the committee was led by a woman who had been able to direct and guide others to achieve more for the village.

Dr Venson-Moitoi implored the committee to share with others how they managed all their projects and their ability to work with residents with minimal disagreements.

Explaining the team’s mission, Dr Venson-Moitoi, who is Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said they had been assigned by President Mokgweetsi Masisi to acknowledge the VDCs contribution and establish how they could be assisted.

She said the cabinet team was mandated to visit successful VDCs to consolidate information to be shared with others so that development and creation of jobs could be spread across the country.

Other members of the team are Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Patrick Ralotsia and Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Dr Unity Dow.

Dr Dow said the team’s interest was more on VDC projects they and the challenges experienced with the intention to assist.

She added that job creation, poverty eradication and speeding up of the development process were at the forefront of the government agenda.

Leshibitse VDC chairperson Ms Onkarabile Seloiso said she had been blessed to lead a committee of men and women who were determined to bring change to the village despite the challenges. She said the committee had been dependent only on rentals which was not enough to cover  expenses.

The committee then decided to start a brick moulding project with the aim of making profit to run its affairs.

She further said the venture could have been profitable if the VDC had a vehicle but they  continued to incur transport expenses as they had to resort to hiring others to deliver materials. However, the project had created employment for the villagers thereby improving their lives.

Another project which the committee had embarked on was the construction of a sports complex, she said.

Ms Seloiso said P150 000 was obtained through the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development for fencing the plot but more funds were needed to put up ablution facilities, change rooms and a guest house.

The VDC chairperson said they were also eying the oriental paving stone found in the area with the intention of selling it for construction.

She said surface rights had already be acquired with the business epexted to be up and running soon.

She added that during surveying they found that the stone was beyond their boundary at Majwaneng near Mookane.

Ms Seloiso said consultations with the leadership of Mookane were ongoing for a possible joint running of a quarry business.

She also disclosed that a prospecting license had been acquired.

She said a total of P500 000 was needed but so far only P20 000 had been paid to the surveyors.

The environmental impact assessment report, she said, was awaited.

On other issues, Ms Seloiso said the Ipelegeng and Poverty eradication programmes were going very well despite the challenges. ENDS