09 Sep 2018

Member of Parliament for Ramotswa, Mr Samuel Rantuana says local authorities have been operating with a shoe-tight development budget. Addressing a kgotla meeting in Ramotswa as part of his constituency tour, he said the trend affected service delivery and subsequently the impact was being felt by customers.

The MP stated that the previous parliament session has lobbied for the increase of the development budget for local authorities so as to improve the lives of people.

He said as parliamentarians, they remained hopeful that local authorities would get a better share of the national budget going forward. Mr Rantuana stated that local government was at the forefront in rolling services to the people; hence its shortfall affected government delivery.

He said it was encouraging because all parliamentarians regardless of their political party affiliation supported the motion.

Mr Rantuana said the council was carrying a huge responsibility on its shoulders such as internal roads, social and community development, education and that it was also a huge procuring entity for local district businesses.

The legislator also told residents that the increasing cases of teenage pregnancy was worrisome.

He stated that it was unfortunate that teenagers in most cases were not impregnated by their age mates, adding that Parliament had passed a bill which increased age of consent to sexual intercourse to 18 years from 16 years old.

He appealled to parents to discipline and guide their children.

He said it was the responsibility of parents to instill discipline on their children, and urged them not to hide behind children’s rights.

MP Rantuana also told residents that President Mokgweetsi Masisi has started his tenure as the President of Botswana and has already started to bring in some changes. Ends