07 Jun 2023

Professionals have been urged to play a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the nation, especially aspirations to attain high income status by 2036.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele said architects, planners, developers, engineers and technicians should look into facilities management as structures had unacceptably become dilapidated and inhabitable.

Speaking during a consultative meeting in Gaborone on Tuesday, Mr Modukanele implored technical officers to assess performances and efforts in order to achieve strategic objectives aimed at strengthening local governance.

He also emphasised the need to fight corruption and build resilient communities through facilitating ease of doing business, rural development and procurement of locally-produced goods.

On the ministry’s new strategic direction of 2021-2025, Mr Modukanele said they were challenged to go beyond limitations to fast track and facilitate special economic zones, village economies, community development and rural industries.

The strategy, he said, included provision of effective and efficient local services and infrastructure as well as building resilient, inclusive and sustainable local economies.

The assistant minister said government’s efforts to respond to the growing needs of the people had been fraught with implementation challenges.

He condemned ineptitude of the implementers as the reason for delays and substandard execution of projects despite considerable amount of investment in infrastructure development.

Mr Modukanele said time was not an ally as people were losing patience on the inability to successfully implement critical projects from time to time.

He urged technicians to promote social inclusion through the implementation of National Social Protection Framework and distribution of food commodities.

Mr Modukanele also encouraged officers to promote communication, education and public awareness through a robust stakeholder engagement plan.

He said they ought to identify and address existing and emerging challenges that hindered decision-making processes as well as embrace and adopt new priorities and methods to ensure seamless implementation of projects.

The assistant minister said the sentiments shared with an average Motswana was to achieve the dream of promoting sustainable livelihoods and development to truly transform Botswana.

He implored planners, technical teams and community development personnel to work together, engage communities and collectively come up with lasting solutions to the growing needs of the people to ensure inclusive growth.

In his remarks, Gaborone City mayor, Mr Austin Abraham said he was grateful to government for finding it necessary to fund development projects, citing the approval of the city storm water drainage master plan.

He said the implementation of projects had created employment and increased income, thereby improving livelihoods.

Mayor Abraham said as Gaborone City Council, they welcome advises on how best they could improve and provide infrastructural services to serve the Gaborone community.

He encouraged all to take the consultative meeting seriously, which aimed at improving project implementation. Ends