23 Feb 2020

Deputy Director of the Department of Social and Community Development, Ms Delic Sehunwe has urged Village Development Committees (VDC) to embrace technology in order to improve service delivery.

She said this during the 2020 Village Development Committees awards held recently in Maun under the theme: Building accountable and knowledgeable VDCs, a vehicle to social cohesion and sustainable development.

The awards were organised by the North West District Council in collaboration with Okavango Sub-district VDCs and Maun Administrative Authority VDCs.

Ms Sehunwe pointed out that VDC played a very important role in the development of the community, therefore should be engaged in the Forth Industrial Revolution by utilising digital platforms such as the internet in order to be efficient and productive in executing their duties.

She applauded some VDCs for connecting Wi-Fi in their conference rooms and offices, pointing out that the connectivity was more relevant during the period of the forth industrial revolution.

Ms Sehunwe noted that VDCs faced a lot of challenges such as non payments for VDC accommodation by public servants, low allowances, lack of partnerships with stakeholders and lack of transport.

She said the challenges restricted VDCs to implement their services even though they have volunteered to lend their helping hand to the community. 

According to Ms Sehunwe the current VDC rental debt arrears stood at about P800 000, with Maun Adminstrative Authority being P435 724 and Okavango Sub-district being P311 000.

“I want to stress to you all that part of my department’s mandate is to monitor VDC arrears, a template has been designed which all councils including NWDC report on monthly basis on this subject. I urge you all to work hard and come up with tangible ways of reducing the debts”, Ms Sehunwe said.

North West District Council Secretary Mr Motlogelwa Thuso said the objectives of the awards were to celebrate the work and achievements done by the VDCs, to foster the spirit of community development, to reward excellence and hard work and to cultivate, motivate and enhance the spirit of patriotism among VDC members.

Mr Thuso also urged the VDCs in the North West District to benchmark from others in different regions to see where they can improve.

For his part North West District Council chairman Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotho encouraged VDCs to work together with other members of the community such as Dikgosi, Councilors and Social workers pointing out that their relationship would enhance service delivery.

Mr Ntsogotho also urged VDC members to refrain from corruption because it delayed developments as it had been observed in some VDCs which were reported to have misused the funds.

“I will like to take this opportunity to thank you all for dedicating your time and resources to uphold the core of community development in different capacities, all the hard work and achievements that you made during your entire period realised through your unmatched spirit of volunteerism,” Mr Ntsogotho concluded. Ends