25 May 2023

Tonota District Councillors have been urged to ensure timely delivery of services to the people.

Addressing a full council meeting on May 24, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale said it was every council’s duty to make service delivery a priority.

He said councils should ensure that beneficiaries of government programmes got their dues on time.

“The duty of councils is to implement government programmes and policies, whilst the National Assembly (Parliament) is to make laws, policies and programmes,” he added.

Mr Molale further requested civil servants to familiarise themselves with the Constitution and the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) election manifesto to implement what the party pledged when seeking re-election.

He said his ministry was mandated with three strategic objectives; to ensure that projects were delivered on time, within budget and cost.

He lamented delays in the completion of government projects, especially roads. 

He cited that the Semotswane-Mandunyane–Shashemooke, Chadibe and Mathangwane gravel road took four years to be evaluated.

He further urged those responsible to deliver quality infrastructure that would last, regretting that the Moshupa Bridge would soon be closed due to its poor quality, resulting from poor supervision.

Mr Molale said part of his ministry’s mandate was to promote a high performance culture, to facilitate timely decision-making as well as to ensure higher quality infrastructure.

He expressed concern about public servants who leaked confidential information, saying such was against the law.

For their part, councillors complained about the poor quality of roads in their district, saying some had developed potholes and had overgrown trees on the sides, which was dangerous to road users.

Jamataka councillor, Mr Jerry Frenzel complained about the many potholes on the Francistown-Borolong road, as well as the time taken for projects to be completed, while Councillor for Matsitama ward, Mr Moipidi Molobeng complained about lack of monitoring of government projects by civil servants. Ends