23 Jun 2021

Lobatse Town Council (LTC) is working on measures aimed at boosting efficiency of its revenue collection, mayor Mr Essop Pandor has said. 

In an address to the first full council meeting of the 2021/22 financial year on Tuesday, Mr Pandor said the measures included reviewing of tariffs, establishment of a credit control unit, increasing of payment platforms, facilitation of electronic payment services and conducting awareness campaigns to encourage residents to pay rates. 

He said as at the end of May, the council had collected P678 69 total revenue of the budgeted P18 507 120 for the current financial year, which translated to just four per cent.

“This figure is a clear indication that we are not doing well. We are thus working hard to come up with strategies to improve revenue collection,” said the mayor. 

Mr Pandor highlighted the importance of maximising revenue collection following a 10 per cent reduction of the budget allocated to LTC.

He said the council received an approved budget of P122 679 860 this financial year, compared to P136 252,130 the previous financial year. 

“This is going to have a bearing on our ability to deliver certain services to expectations. On that regard, we are now compelled to maximise revenue collection and reduce unnecessary cosmetic spending,” he said. 

Briefing council on the progress of major infrastructure developments in the town, Mr Pandor said planning processes were complete for the long awaited Lobatse Leather Industry Park project. 

He said these included undertaking of the Environmental Impact Assessment, development and approval of the Environmental Management Plan, designs and drawing of the leather park and approval and granting of the building permit.

He said the next phase of the project would be the commencement of construction works. “To this extent, the tender for bulk infrastructure, comprising of roads, electricity and water provision, has been floated and evaluation has been completed. 

The tender is awaiting adjudication and award, after which construction will commence,” he said.

He further said another long awaited Milk Afric dairy project, was at negotiations stage between the Botswana Development Corporation and an identified technical partner. 

Mr Pandor said legal issues relating to the partnership would be finalised after completion of the negotiations. 

The mayor further said construction of the Lobatse Pedestrian Bridge was 96 per cent complete as at the end of May, while upgrading of the bus rank was also complete and awaiting handing over. 

He added that the bus rank mall project was also progressing well and the facility would be ready to open to the public by October. Ends