11 Oct 2023

It is important for Okavango District Council (ODC) to devise an income-generating committee which will assist the council to make its money.

Although they accepted the proposed 2024/25 budget Okavango councillors said the council still trailed behind in generating its own income.

Speaking during a special council meeting in Gumare recently, Councillor for Qangwa/Xaixai, Mr Lelejwang Sokwe, stressed the importance of an income generating committee which would help the council make money.

He said the council was still falling short when it came to creating its own income.

As for the budget proposal, he said it should include road maintenance and that of streetlights of some villages.

Mr Sokwe said some villages such as Etsha 6, Seronga and Qangwa that were electrified through donations were not planned for in the budget.

The Finance Committee Chairperson, Mr Lesedi Boy, said the proposed budget for 2024/25 for Okavango District Council was P202 734 290.00.

Mr Boy said the budget was made up of Revenue Support Grant of P198 614 330.00 and own income generation of P4 119 960.00.

When responding to queries raised, Mr Boy said P80 million was budgeted for district roads under the supplementary budget and that streetlights maintenance in some villages such as Shakawe and Gumare were under supplementary budget.

He said the council was on a plan to visit other successful local authorities to benchmark on how they generate own income to implement and improve as Okavango District Council. ENDS