27 Jan 2019

North West District Council has proposed to implement 62 projects through the Constituency Community Projects Programme for financial year 2019/20.

The proposed projects to be undertaken include drilling and equipping of boreholes as well as water connection, electrifications of projects and procurement of office furniture and equipment, paving of internal roads, solar street lightning, construction of a services centre in Sehithwa and construction of sports facilities.

The projects were agreed on in December 2018 after consultations with key stakeholders such as village leadership, Village Development Committees, dikgosi, political leadership and the community at large.

Principal economist, Mr Bakang Molefi revealed during a special full council meeting when presenting the project proposals that they had already submitted project memorandum for funds amounting to P40 million for the implementation of the said projects.

The programme is expected to commence April 1 and end on March 31, 2020.

He linked the programme to Vision 2036, which stresses sustainable economic development, especially with reference to key results areas on employment opportunities and sustainable development.

The programme targets local artisans and contractors for the construction and maintenance of projects as well as promoting local businesses through the purchasing of goods and services from local suppliers.

Mr Molefi said that the introduction of the constituency fund had helped in creating jobs in the community and economically empowered communities to subsequently improve infrastructure.

However, some councillors expressed worry over the slow implementation of the programme since its inception. They said some wards were disadvantaged as the funds allocated were not fully utilised on the proposed projects.

Cllr Kebareetse Ntsogotlho of Khwai/Mababe complained that residents at Khwai had long requested for the construction of a cultural village.

He said that the delay in implementation of projects was a result of interference by some political leaders, who dictate which projects should be carried out despite the communities’ choice.

Meanwhile, in an interview the council chairperson, Mr Duncan Enga also shared the sentiments that the project implementation was moving at a snail’s pace.

He expressed frustration that the delay was caused by some political leaders who claim to have a sense of entitlement to the constituency funding.

Mr Enga complained that some MPs tend to change proposed projects and chose their preferred projects, something he said had left communities frustrated.

“Despite the efforts by our officers to roll out the programme to the communities for selection and prioritization of identified projects in different villages, some MPs will come at a later stage and make some changes against the communities’ will,” he added.

Mr Enga also noted that they made efforts to engage area MPs before projects implementations, but  some failed to attend meetings. ENDS