16 Sep 2020

The North West District Council has secured funds for the preparation of a new Maun Development Plan (MDP).

The plan is one of the few that have been prepared under the new decentralised physical planning committee. The plan is intended to address future needs.

Council chairperson, Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotlho told the ongoing full council session that although he could not reveal the amount they received, the funding was an exciting development.

“This is indeed an exciting development and we are most privileged that it happens during our tenure.  We should collectively support and facilitate the preparation of a comprehensive plan,” he said.

The chairperson also acknowledged efforts by his predecessors, saying they called for the review and preparation of the Maun Development Plan. Mr Ntsogotlho told fellow councillors that a task had been placed on their shoulders and they were expected to deliver services to the community they served.

The community, he said, looked up to them to facilitate the preparation of the plan for their aspirations to become a reality.Updating on project implementation, he said the council continued to implement projects dating as far back as the 2017/18 financial year.

The implementation of the Constituency Community Programme (CCP), he said, still stretched the council’s resources as they had not managed to clear the backlog from 2017.

Mr Ntsogotlho also pointed out that they had challenges in implementing the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) for primary schools backlog eradication due to delays resulting from appeals by contractors.

He said other projects faced with implementation challenges included the destitute and Rural Area Dwellers Programme (RADP). He added that they  were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Councillors were informed that the five projects that had been at the High Court for litigation had been appealed again at the Court of Appeal.“This means that the delay in implementation will continue pending the final court outcome,” he said.Mr Ntsogotlho further revealed that the council had started pre-tender activities such as vetting of documents as they await the final ruling.

He noted that 11 primary schools across the district were expected to benefit from the five projects being: Komana, Toteng, Legotlhwana, Boyei, Boseja, Disaneng, Samochima, Kathiana, Shakakwe, Kajaja and Mohembo West.

The chairperson noted that works for the other two packages in Phuduhudu, Etsha 1, Etsha 6 and Etsha 13 were progressing well. He said they had also submitted another proposal to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to cover other primary schools that needed attention.

The house was also apprised about how the pandemic had affected the Ipelegeng Programme. Mr Ntsogotlho said it had to be partially suspended as a safety measure. However, he noted that COVID-19 scorpions were engaged as well as temporary cooks and cleaners in all 96 schools in the district.

Mr Ntsogotlho also said 467 scorpion beneficiaries were engaged to assist with pandemic protocols in all villages across the district.  He expressed happiness that the Ipelegeng Programme had been revamped and that the 2020/21 CCP had been reinstated. ENDS