24 Sep 2018

North East District (NED) councillors have hailed the development profiling exercise, noting that it will promote the district and attract investors. 

Giving a presentation at the ongoing NED full council meeting in Masunga recently, principal economist in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Kentse Raphukula said the district profiling exercise made things easier when developing strategies of a particular area. 

He stated that three districts of Ghanzi, Chobe and Kgalagadi had been profiled, adding that the ministry continued to roll the exercise to other districts. 

Mr Raphukula said the exercise gave a comprehensive insight into variables of a locality such as demographics, social and economic, hence making it easier when one had an interest in that particular district. 

The officer highlighted that the profiling exercise should be taken seriously and treated with high regard in order for it to be a success, adding that it needed concerted efforts from all stakeholders being civic leaders, government departments, veterans and scholars among others. 

“The district profiling needs consultation and buy in from the leadership of the district, which includes you, councillors because this is a collaborative process,” Mr Raphukula said. 

He stated that upon completion the booklet could be used by business people, politicians, private sector, investors and even ordinary people as it would provide evidence based planning and also help to uncover investment opportunities that were unique to the district. 

He said the booklet would highlight areas of uniqueness from culture, language, dress and any other activities that were distinctive in the district.  

Mr Raphukula stated that stakeholder commitment remained the biggest challenge in carrying out the exercise as some districts had in the past failed to complete it. 

He said all the data should have been collected and compiled beginning of January next year so that the booklet could be printed. 

Councillor Paulos Nkoni of Mapoka-Nlapkhwane thanked the ministry for the profiling and urged them to engage councillors whenever there was need. 

He further said the fact that the North East District was dominated by integrated farming was worrisome because residential areas and farms were condensed in one place. He said he hoped the profile would prove that there was shortage of land in the district. 

He highlighted that the district was rich in culture, language and beliefs, saying they needed to be highlighted, 

Masunga ward councillor, Mr Elias Mbonini and Mosojane ward councillor, Mr Mbaakanyi Smarts welcomed the development, saying it would not just benefit the district but the rest of Botswana. 

The councillors stated that such exercises helped market districts and to attract potential investors to a particular district. ENDS