19 Sep 2018

Francistown City Council clerk, Mr Lopang Pule has urged Ward Development Committees (WDC) to come up with strategic plans to develop the city.

Officiating at a WDC training workshop recently, Mr Pule said it was important to develop strategic and annual plans for the community which were linked to the city council’s strategic plan and Vision 2022.

“You should remember that you are the extended arm of the council, therefore you have to take the upper hand in driving the city’s strategies and vision,” he added.

He further noted that with the national outcry that WDC’s had issues of financial mismanagement, it was important to implement better strategies on how to manage community funds as well as to equip themselves with project management skills.

In her welcome remarks, Donga court president Ms Tshegofatso Setumo emphasised that WDC members were expected to be exemplary, adding that they should be problem solvers rather than being the problem.

She further informed participants that it was the responsibility of the WDC to develop the community that elected them and to ensure everything went smoothly within the community. Ms Setumo also said it was important to leave politics out for the smooth running of the committee.

She said the committee needed to work closely with other community leaders to achieve its mandate.

Giving a word of encouragement, Francistown deputy mayor, Mr Godisang Radisigo said the WDC could not achieve anything if they failed to work closely with the city council, adding that it was vital to present a united front in trying to develop the city of Francistown.

“Let us work hard for the community that has trusted and elected us to work for them,” he added.  For his part, the principal community development officer, Mr Gabobofane Mbwe emphasised that every WDC member should have a copy of the WDC 2015 regulations, saying it was noteworthy that every member reads and understands it as it could make work easier for them. ENDS