28 Jul 2022

Members of Local Economic Development (LED) committee of Bobirwa Sub District Council should take advantage of resources at their disposal to help inform LED policy development and facilitate its implementation.

This was said by acting senior assistant council secretary of BSDC, Mr Ivan Makati during a training on undertaking local economy and developing LED strategies. 

“I think we are endowed with a lot of resources…some of you can touch, others you may not be able to touch…some you may hear about. Such resources include land, adequate water, our villages and our unique cultures,” said Mr Makati.

He cited Japan as one of the countries that took advantage of their many shrines for tourism development, whereby those who visited shrines paid a fee to access the places.

In Bobirwa, Mr Makati cited Lentswelemoriti as one of the unique villages whose story could be packaged and sold to international broadcasters such as CNN.

“That’s an exceptional village. The first time I heard about Lentswelemoriti I said that’s a brilliant documentary that can be packaged for international market,” Mr Makati said adding  that events leading to the establishment of the village that did not have a kgosi, but led by St Engenas Zion Christian Church leadership were intriguing.

“Developments that took place down south in Ramotswa and Mochudi where members of the church were apparently persecuted and consequently fled led to the establishment of the village we now call Lentswelemoriti at a private land,” Mr Makati said about the uniqueness and history of the village east of Motlhabaneng, just a stone’s throw away from the confluence of Limpopo and Motloutse rivers.

He said that there were many intriguing stories in Bobirwa which could be turned into projects that had a potential of generating funds for the communities.

Therefore, he urged councilors to think sustainable developments, ‘developments that will preserve what we have for the future’.

He said that implementation of sustainable projects would generate money for the businesses and communities.

“And once we generate money our socio-economic life is going to improve,” said Mr Makati adding that developing a life of an individual in a village impacted the larger community.

Speaking at the same event, Serowe Administrative Authority LED commissioner, Mr Lesedi Phuthego challenged councilors to review the bye-laws that inhibited the running of businesses.

“Look into the bye-laws and review them, if need be, so that businesspersons can see us enablers than foes to their businesses,” said Mr Phuthego when introducing LED to councilors.

Mr Phuthego said that implementation of LED was critical especially at a time when the economy had been injured by COVID-19. He told councilors that government was banking on LED to yield results real quick.

“We are running after time to implement LED… Time is of essence now,” said Mr Phuthego.

Mr Phuthego told BDSC councilors that some districts as North East were already reaping fruits of LED.

Being the first of the sub district councils to undergo training in LED, councilors were called on to outpace other sub districts in an effort to generate funds. Ends