08 Nov 2020

Kgalagadi District Councilors have endorsed the 2020/2021 project memorandum on constituency funding for community projects after intense debate during a special full council. 

Delivering the project memorandum in Tsabong recently, Kgalagadi District Council, Principal Economic Planner Mr Ookeditse Boikepetse said a total of P20 million was sought for implementation of 24 projects in Kgalagadi North and Kgalagadi South constituencies with each constituency allocated P10 million.  

He said the constituency funding was aimed at implementing infrastructure development projects that could generate income and create sustainable employment opportunities. 

He said both sub-districts picked priority projects and endorsed them at sub-district level.

The projects included  construction of the Tsabong mini stadium phase II estimated to cost P6.7 million which entailed construction of two ablution blocks, kiosk, change room, parking bays and drive ways as well as installation of tower lights and other related construction components.

Moreover, the funds would be used to buy a new project monitoring vehicle at a cost of P650 000 to facilitate prompt response to issues on construction sites, construction of guest houses at Hukuntsi at a cost of P1.2 million, construction of tribal administrative offices at Ncaang and Ngwatle villages at a cost of P1.2 million. 

The funds would also would be used for expansion of Zutshwa salt project where additional ponds would be constructed at a cost of P400 000. 

Maintainance of the perimeter fencing of Inaphu RADS Farm at Inalegolo and Phuduhudu which was dilapidated at a cost of P1.5 million has also been included in the list of projects.

 The meeting was further informed that funds were sought for installation of security lights at Mabuasehube at a cost of P2 million, as well as construction of LA2 houses at Lehututu to address accommodation shortage for public officers at a cost of P500 000.

However, some of the councilors expressed disappointment that some of the projects that were submitted for implementation through the constituency funding were not included which left their wards without developments. 

Ukhwi/ Ngwatle/ Zutshwa councilor Mr Onyaditswe Lucas stated that he was not impressed as some of the projects did not make it into the 2020/2021 project memorandum despite being agreed upon after consultation with community.

 He said the Members of Parliament had also done separate consultations which, he said left a gap in reaching a consensus collectively as leaders. 

Councilor Onyaditswe said the provision in the constituency funding that gave the MP the veto power over projects to be funded defied the consultation process. 

He said a full council was the supreme body that could make decisions, prioritising on what the community needed therefore, argued, that an MP should not overrule a full council. 

Khawa councilor Piet Bock refuted allegations that the MPs did not consult councilors. 

He said it was surprising that some councilors failed to convince MPs during the consultation process and later claimed to have not to have been consulted. 

He encouraged them to exercise patience, saying ‘Rome was not built in one day’ and therefore projects that did not make it could be considered in the next financial year. 

Tsabong South councilor, Mr John Lentshikang endorsed the 2020/2021 project memorandum with reluctantly.

 He argued that some of the projects such as the installation of security lights at Mabuasehube should not have been prioritised and instead a Werda service center should have been constructed to circumvent people travelling long distances to Tsabong for services. 

For her part, Council Secretary Ms Baipelelang Photlokwe advised councilors that development was a consultative process therefore it was important for councilors to consult and reach a consensus on priority projects to benefit communities. 

She stated that constituency funding gave the MP a final say on the projects and therefore all stakeholders must come together and reach a consensus based on the needs of the communities.

Further, Ms Photlokwe noted that the constituency fund was initiated to close the gaps between National Development Plan 11, District Development Plan 8, and Village Development Committee grant. 

Thus, she said, MPs in collaboration with other stakeholders must assess the constituency and come up with priority projects, emphasising the importance of reaching a consensus on how the P10 million allocated to each constituency would be spent looking at the reality on the ground. 

She said engaging the community with assistance of the experts ensured that projects did not become white elephants as it had happened before in some districts. 

“Government does bottom up planning therefore lack of consultation and buy-in by communities could cause projects to be white elephants. It is critical to adopt an all-inclusive approach,” she advised.  Ends