08 Dec 2019

Matsiloje councillor, Ms Florah Mpetsane, has been elected North East District Council (NEDC) chairperson.

She ascended to the seat after Councillor Mbaakanyi Smart’s nomination was deemed incomplete having one supporter on the nomination sheet.

And Councillor Zibani Mbalambi of Kalakamati was elected deputy chairperson unopposed.

 In her appreciation remarks, Ms Mpetsane thanked NEDC councillors for believing in her capabilities.

She encouraged councillors to feel free and alert her whenever they felt that she was not running the council accordingly, which she said would strengthen their relationship as leaders.

The chairperson said the district continued to face many challenges such as water scarcity and poor road networks, which needed to be addressed.

She said councillors, together with other stakeholders, should work together to ensure North East District-Tutume Sub-district Water Scheme become a success.

She noted that with the loan sourced from World Bank to improve and expand infrastructure at Ntimbale Dam and the district network, they expected the water crisis in some parts of the district to be addressed in due course.

Ms Mpetsane said the state of roads in the district was alarming, citing the Tshesebe-Masunga road as a drawback to the growth of the district.

The chairperson said the Tshesebe- Masunga road should have been completed by now, had it not been for the termination of the initial contractor, adding that it was important that the new contractor should be committed to meet the contractual terms upon commencing the works next year.

Ms Mpetsane said Tshesebe-Masunga road was crucial to the district in that ‘it is the shortest route that connects the village headquarters to Francistown.’

She commended the constituency funding project for creating employment in villages, adding that it also offered villages an opportunity for developments that would otherwise not be possible to be carried out by VDCs.

For his part, Mr Mbalambi thanked councillors for electing him to the position of deputy chairperson.

He stated that this was a new challenge for him hence noted that he trusted his colleagues to guide and advise him where necessary.

He concurred that the district was marred by acute water shortage in some villages, which he said needed attention.

Councilor Mbalambi stressed that teamwork was important in order to take North East District to greater heights, therefore he challenged all councillors to work hard.

Meanwhile, 19 elected and four specially elected councilors were officially sworn in on Friday in Masunga. ENDS