14 Mar 2019

Some Central District councillors have expressed concerns over high unemployment rate and slow implementation of projects.

They aired their views when debating council chairperson, Mr Peter Williams’ speech.

While detailing their misgivings about the pace at which certain development projects were moving, councillors also suggested some remedies to the nagging problems.

Regarding education, some called for an immediate removal of teachers from the Public Service Act of 2008, arguing that under Teaching Service Management, teachers had a well-defined path and direction.

Some spoke about the need to expedite allocation of plots to avoid squatting.

They called on Ngwato Land Board and the council to address the issue of shortage of land surveyors, which was cited as an impediment towards surveying land and availing it to the public.

Councillor Patrick Kaisara argued that efforts towards addressing unemployment were slow and uninspiring.

“The people of Dukwi have been contemplating squatting as a means to their land problems since land board has not allocated plots in their area since 2013,” said Councillor Mr Thatayaone Kefitile.

Mr Kefitile argued that schools in his area always performed below expectations because the conditions at the schools were not conducive.

He found that schools were still running short of needed equipment in classes and boarding facilities.

He also lamented the observation that refugee students outperformed citizens yet government had committed not to sponsoring such students beyond basic education.

Councillor George Makhura proposed for an increment in constituency development fund which he said was pivotal towards improving livelihood of the ordinary people.

He said ever since implementation of projects under constituency development fund, some internal roads helped his electorate access certain areas which were previously difficult to get to.

Mr Makhura also called for an increment of driving lanes onto A1 road to render it four way, especially when going into into Palapye to allow for ease of movement into and out of Palapye, a township he deemed ‘fast developing’.

He observed that traffic flow into Palapye from north and south was hamstrung during holidays and busy days. ENDS