19 Jun 2019

The majority of Gaborone councillors are impressed with the way most projects are implemented in their areas. 

Responding to the mayor’s speech during the ongoing council sitting, they said having service centers was yielding good results. 

Councillor Veronica Lesole said most vacant posts were filled and revenue collection was good. 

On national issues, she said, stock feed subsidy was a welcome development. 

For her part, Councillor Rhoda Sekgororoane said though there were positive strides made in the civil service, there was still a problem of gender inequality in most departments. 

She lamented that the issue had long been raised but nothing had changed saying such imbalances hindered women from prospering.

 Councillor Mr Mankie Sekete accused the town clerk’s officers of withholding information from them. He said red tape on information dissemination was counter productive because it prevented councillors from making informed decisions. 

On other issues, Councillor Sesupo Jacobs said it was disappointing that the mayor did not mention the recent case in which LEGABIBO took government to court over same sex relationships. 

Mr Jacobs said as leaders in the community, they had to embrace all sexes regardless of their sexual preferences. 

He said when canvassing for votes, no one must be left behind saying council’s failure to address the issue was tantamount to concluding that those concerned were only relevant when it came to voting. 

Councillor Jacobs urged his fellow councilors and authorities to prioritise issues expressing surprise that steel posts for street lights were erected at a ridiculously high price while some places had no lights altogether. 

Street lights should be installed where there was dire need while at the same time fixing existing ones, he said. 

He decried the tendency of under-spending which meant the council was not delivering on its mandate. 

Most councillors complained about exposed electric cables around the city which posed danger to the general public, especially school children. Ends