01 Aug 2021

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development intends to seek effective financial mechanisms to support districts and town councils to properly manage solid waste within their jurisdictions.

Answering a parliamentary question recently, local government assistant minister, Mr Mabuse Pule said such would enable council to move to a circular economy that would reduce carbon foot prints.

Mr Pule said  global environmental reviews had shown that governments through grants, loans, budgets, tax exemptions and other mechanisms were a key part of the policy mix for waste management.

“It was indeed true that the Greater Gaborone Waste Transfer and Sorting Centre is the only solid waste infrastructure project to be funded during the eleventh National Development Plan (NDP 11) but due to the recurring budgetary constraints, the ministry has not been able to secure funds for solid waste infrastructure in the country” he said.

Again, he said, the ministry had been advising councils to enter into partnerships with the private sector in an effort to manage waste especially during this hard time of financial shortages.

“Even though there are viable business opportunities in this field, none of the councils has taken advantage of this,” he stated.

Jwaneng-Mabutsane MP, Mr Mephato Reatile had asked the minister to state financing options, if any, for solid waste infrastructure in the country during the NDP 11 given that only the Gaborone Solid Waste Transfer station was earmarked for funding during the plan period.

Mr Reatile also wanted to know to what extent councils had been brought on board to take advantage of such opportunities.  Ends