14 Apr 2019

North West District Council (NWDC) recently rewarded Village Development Committees (VDCs) for good performance and keeping their books ‘clean’.

Speaking at the performance awards recently, Minister of Basic Education and Member of Parliament for Okavango, Mr Bagalatia Arone said VDCs were a reference point in matters pertaining to community development.

Mr Arone urged VDCs to uphold the principle of botho, which is rooted in the culture of Botswana as they sought to achieve the national philosophy of social harmony and cohesion when discharging their mandate.

He said the VDCs had powers and functions, which include among others, development of strategic and annual plans for communities, soliciting the assistance of donors and partners through the assistance of the council and representing the community in development matters. 

Mr Arone noted that NWDC had 79 VDCs, 42 of which were in the Maun Administration Authority and 37 in Okavango Sub-district, which were elected in 2018 for a term of three years  as per the VDC regulations of 2014.

“VDC’s are pioneers of any development agenda of the district,” he said, observing that some VDCs in the district had established partnerships with private companies to carry out some developments.

Minister Arone noted that some had  managed to build conference halls, offices, upgraded houses, while some had mobilised communities to establish trusts, which in turn created employment and make some notable developments in a number of villages and uplifted the living standards of the people. 

He observed that the VDCs were the main providers of accommodation to government employees in the district, since government could not afford to provide each and every employee with accommodation.

Mr Arone also said the VDCs in the NWDC had played an important role in developing education by providing Early Childhood Education, as most of them run day care centres that charge reasonable fees.

He however said government was aware of challenges faced by the VDCs within the district and the nation at large, such as inadequate resources, which limited their capacity to execute their mandate such as transport and communication networks.

He said government was also aware of the VDC members’ low allowances. 

Meanwhile, first prize and overall winner awards went to Shakawe West VDC, followed by Mabudutsa from Maun and third prize went to Meno also in Maun. 

First prize received P14 500, trophies and certificates for members, second prize got P4 500, trophies and certificates while the third prize was P2 000 and a trophy. ENDS