11 May 2023

Poor implementation of critical projects by district councils is a concern that should challenge technical services cadres to identify gaps that hinder service delivery.

“These challenges have nothing to do with funding or availability of resources but rather ineptitude on the part of the implementers, leading to delays and substandard execution of projects,” said Assistant

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Sethabelo Modukanele.

He was speaking during the official opening of the workshop for Development and Technical Services cadres in Selebi Phikwe on Wednesday.

Mr Modukanele said there was a need to nip the practice in the bud as a considerable amount of investment was channelled towards infrastructure development particularly when government was implementing the Transitional National Development Plan, Vision 2036 pillars as well as the Ministry’s five-year Strategy and Transformation Plan.

He, therefore, urged them to identify and address existing and emerging challenges that impede decision-making processes as the first step towards progress and adopt new priorities to ensure seamless implementation of projects.

“This is a reminder to you to take stock of ourselves and identify commitment gaps in our efforts to transform livelihoods in our respective districts,” he said.

Mr Modukanele implored them to go beyond their limitations to fast-track and facilitate economies, community development and rural industries and fight corruption.

The ministry’s deputy permanent secretary Mr Mpho Morapedi reminded them of their mandate to serve the community, hence the need to improve service delivery, particularly project implementation.

Mr Morapedi said it was worrisome that some of the funds allocated to councils for projects were returned at the end of the financial year due to failure to undertake the proposed projects, adding that some projects dating back to 2021/2022 financial year had not been completed.

He said the 2022/23 financial year is left with 10 months to end but none of the projects planned for that period had been started.

Mr Morapedi commended the Selebi Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) and North East District Council for doing well in project implementation.

“We are here to share ideas and benchmark from Selebi Phikwe,” he said.

In addition, he urged implementers to spend most of their time monitoring projects rather than being in the office writing reports which did not reflect the work on the ground.

The SPTC Mayor Mr Lucas Modimana added that the distinguishing feature between emerging markets and third-world countries was project implementation.

He said Botswana had brilliant ideas that some countries had adopted to develop their nations but the country was lagging behind in terms of project implementation.

“If we do not take project implementation seriously we are likely to miss the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The reason we are at this stage of development is because we are slow to implement.”

He urged administrative authorities to work together to provide proper infrastructure and place this country in a better economic position emphasising prudent financial management.

The workshop was attended by technical cadres from SPTC, Francistown City Council, North East, Tonota, Palapye, Serowe, and Serowe district councils. ENDS