04 Aug 2019

Government  has approved the establishment of new sub-districts, including Nata-Gweta Sub-district.

This was said by Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso. She said  due to budgetary constraints not all proposed sub-districts were implemented, including Nata-Gweta. 

She said her ministry had adopted a position that resources permitting, establishment and operationalisation of outsourcing sub-districts would be done in phases.

Ms Tshireletso said the project was not included in the District Development Plan 8 (DDP 8) and National Development Plan 10, but emphasised that the ministry still considered the  establishment of sub-districts a priority.

She also said all projects in the Nata-Gweta constituency were implemented by duly designated and qualified officials and were delivered as per specifications. 

The assistant minister said Nata-Gweta  has completed various projects as per specification such as the Nata-Sepako road, primary school backlog eradication project at Nata, maintenance of primary school facilities at Nata and Gweta, and community constituency programme projects within the constituency.

“Some of these projects were completed through in house method by the local authority officials and others were achieved through outsourcing of private personnel services,” she said.

Ms Tshireletso also stated that since 2014, Nata-Gweta had operated as a service centre and that all residents were accessing services from Nata as a service centre. 

She said such services that were offered in porta cabins included social and community development, environmental health, self help housing agency, roads, architecture and buildings, Matimela and bye-law.

She noted that some services were operated on a weekly basis from Tutume which was the sub-district headquarters (Tutume Sub). 

She said outreach programmes included commercial affairs, revenue service and physical planning services.

Ms Tshireletso said the ministry was not aware of any planned mass demonstration regarding the delay of sub-district project implementation. 

She said the district continued to conduct intensive consultation with the community and gave updates on the position of government regarding lack of resources.

She said upon availability of resources, the ministry would go through a proper engagement and consultations to ensure right inclusion on priority setting.

Nata/Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga had asked the minister to state when the Nata Sub-district project would resume.

Mr Majaga also wanted to know if the ministry was aware that all projects in the constituency were never completed on time due to lack of designated officials. 

He also asked whether the ministry was aware that all 11 villages in the constituency and Sowa Township wanted to access services in Nata Sub-district as promised before.

He further asked  if the ministry was aware that constituents were planning a mass demonstration regarding the delay of sub-district implementation.ENDS