04 Aug 2013

There have been some instances where public funds generated by village development committees (VDCs) have been misappropriated and misused, Parliament has been told.

Responding to a question, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele said to curb this negative development, his ministry has conducted orientation for VDC members so they understand the role that they played in the community. In addition, Mr Siele explained that VDCs had been trained on financial management.

“My ministry has through councils, whose membership include councillors and dikgosi as ex- officio members, conducted internal auditing of VDC books of accounts,”  he said. The minister also stated that councils monitored all cases of misappropriation or misuse of funds on a regular basis and that they were investigated and dealt with accordingly.

Community members were also urged to report all such incidents, he added. Mr Siele highlighted that the ministry was also in the process of drafting VDC regulations to replace the current guidelines in line with the Local Government Act of 2012. He noted that the regulations were being finalised by the Attorney General’s Chambers and would be operational before the end of this financial year.

The new regulations, Mr Siele said, would include clauses which will enforce tighter financial regulations and immediate repercussions for wrong doers.  Member of Parliament for Nata/Gweta, Mr Rayner Makosha has asked the minister if he was aware that public funds and funds generated from VDCs were usually misappropriated and misused.

Mr Makosha also wanted the minister to clarify the role that his ministry played in curbing this negative development within the VDCs countrywide. In addition, he wanted to know if the minister will consider reviewing the VDCs guidelines and to also brief the house on the assurance of improving the scenario. ENDS