12 Feb 2020

 The Gaborone city councillors have approved budget proposal of P285 183 650 allocated to it as revenue support grant.

The budget was approved in a special full council meeting on Tuesday.

When presenting the budget, chairperson of finance and general purpose committee, Councillor Motamma Horatius said for the next financial year, no allocation had been made to Gaborone District Council for developments.

She said it was becoming apparent that the budget allocated to the council fell short of addressing all developmental issues and could not meet aspirations of the community of Gaborone, hence the need to find other avenues to augment what they had.

Ms Horatius said there were emerging issues that the council was contending with such as narrow revenue base, poor budget management, inadequate/ dilapidated aging infrastructure and lack of ICT services to support innovation and employment creation among other things.

The finance chairperson said one of the areas that had been identified as to have the potential for stimulating the economy was the improvement of information and technology in the city, saying this would go a long way in creating employment and improving service delivery.

However, Umbrella for Democratic Change councillor representing Old Naledi, Mr Oarabile Motlaleng said he was not comfortable approving the budget that he had no chance to critique.

Mr Motlaleng pointed out that they were given the printout in the evening and then the next morning they were expected to give it thumbs up, the procedure that he termed as unfair to them.

He was seconded by Councillor Oduetse Tautona of Kgale View and after some deliberations, the mayor suggested a vote.

Mr Motlaleng then suggested voting through the secret ballot, but he was advised that the secret ballot worked only when voting for the mayor and the deputy.

He eventually withdrew his contention, paving way for the approval. Ends