16 Dec 2013

The Chairperson of the Tonota Sub district, Councillor Peter Williams has appealed to the business community to complement government’s efforts in providing shelter to the needy. 

Speaking at the Sub district chairperson’s ball on December 13, Cllr Williams said government alone could not manage to achieve to provide shelter and there was need for all stakeholders to come on board.

He said the Sub district has constructed and completed six Rural Area Development Programme (RADP) houses and four destitute houses for the financial year 2012/13 and the construction of six RADP and six destitute houses for the current financial year were on-going. Cllr Williams said China Railways Seventh Group which is currently upgrading the Tonota/Francistown road has donated two houses for the needy in Tonota through the Presidential Housing Appeal.

He appealed to the business community to emulate the company and assist the government in the realisation of the Vision 2016 pillar of a just, compassionate and caring nation. Still on issues of accommodation, the Sub council chairperson said the sub district was faced with acute shortage of public officers’ accommodation. He, however, said the Sub district has managed to rent some houses in Tonota village in order to curb the problem and also empower locals in the process.

Cllr Williams said other villages in the Sub district would be catered for in the next financial year should funds permit. The chairperson said following the disaster experienced in the Sub district at the beginning of this year, 34 two-roomed houses were allocated to the victims and construction was on-going. Cllr Williams thanked everybody who assisted the people who were affected by the disaster. 

He also noted that despite all the achievements, the Sub district was faced with a number of challenges which include among others deferral of some projects due to recession. However, he called on everybody to continue to be innovative and utilise the available resources efficiently. He also seised the opportunity to bid his fellow cllrs who did not make it in their party primaries farewell.

Earlier, the senior assistant council secretary, Mr Terence Ntalabgwe said the ball should not only be a time to dine but should also be used as platform for networking and sharing ideas that could develop the Sub district. Mr Ntalabgwe said the Sub district was ready to be advised and accepts constructive criticism in order to become a model sub district in the country. ENDS