03 Mar 2020

Jwaneng Town Council mayor, Ms Olga Ditsie has encouraged councils of Lobatse, Southern District and Jwaneng to take advantage of their strategic positioning along the Trans-Kalahari corridor and harness opportunities that come along with it.

Speaking at the opening of the Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA) southern region assembly, which comprises of the three councils at Jwaneng on Monday, she indicated that such opportunities were in the sectors of supply and logistics, dry ports, tourism in all its forms and agriculture, among many others.

She also said that as home to one of the biggest diamond mines in the world, the region stood at an apex in terms of becoming a centre for polishing, cutting, manufacturing and beneficiation. 

“Therefore we need to strictly strengthen our advocacy for local economic development around the diamond industry,” she said.

Ms Ditsie also urged members to understand the objectives of BALA so as to focus their energies on the right community issues while at the same time driving the mandate and agenda of the government.

She advised members that it was upon them to also advocate for burning issues such as gender and women issues as well as rights and inequalities for underprivileged groups. 

Lobatse Town Council clerk, Ms Boikhutso Matenge advised that good governance and good conduct were vital characters in a community leader.

She said it was vital to chat a strategic plan for the region and work on it as a team to take the region forward. 

Ms Matenge also implored the three councils to always be open to one another for benchmarking purposes, saying being stingy with ideas would not serve any purpose for stakeholders. 

She said in the past, implementation of plans and strategies had been a major challenge for the region, and therefore stressed the need to improve on such.

Still at the assembly, delegates elected a new committee that will represent the region for the next two and a half years where Cuncillor Mpho Dithole of Southern District Council was elected to the chairmanship by 14 delegates to 10 for Councillor Donald Mokgatla of Lobatse Town Council.

Councillor Tshokodiso Lesetedi of Jwaneng Town Council was elected unopposed as deputy, while Councillor Agnes Moabi of Lobatse Toun Council was also unopposed as treasurer. 

Other positions, Ontiretse Mosimanewamacha of Lobatse Town Council was elected for projects and fundraising while Motshwari Maphalala of Jwaneng Town Council was elected publicity secretary.

In his word of acceptance, Councillor Dithole appreciated the trust that the rest of the delegates entrusted him with, and promised to work hand in hand with all the committee members across the three councils.

“As the chairperson, I can only deliver through your support. 

As committee, we will work tirelessly to achieve our objectives. 

I would also like to call for the support of the technical team as professionals,” he said. ENDS