18 Jun 2025

In an effort to improve the quality of life for its communities, the North West District Council recently undertook a benchmarking mission to the North East District Council on the issue of Local Economic Development (LED).

LED emphasises collaboration among various stakeholders to harness local resources and skills to drive economic growth.

Deputy council chairman, Mr Vepaune Moreti informed a full council meeting on Monday that the opportunity to benchmark was timely as councillors would, during the ongoing session, nominate members for the LED committee in line with the recently-reviewed standing orders.

The committee is expected to prioritise projects and programmes that will address the most pressing economic needs as well as identify and implement initiatives designed to boost local economy among others, he said.

The meeting also learnt that the office of the chairman has developed a two and a half year roadmap anchored on five strategic objectives that reflect the council’s core values and key priorities.

The overarching strategic objectives, Mr Moreti said were to build a vibrant local economy, promote environmental upkeep, improve social wellbeing, enhance human resource development and increase revenue generation.

“In an era of global uncertainty and rapid change, we must act decisively. We must grow our economy not only in numbers but in the lives it transforms,” he said.

“We must also protect our environment, not as an afterthought but as a foundation for future generations. And we must also ensure our people enjoy the dignity of good health, education, and social support,” he added.

Mr Moreti noted further that in addition to the need for council to invest in its greatest asset being its people, it must also build a financial system that was transparent, innovative, and capable of sustaining its noble aspirations.

He told fellow councillors that the NWDC was committed to realising inclusive development, economic opportunity and a higher quality of life for the community, an ideal that he said was ambitious yet achievable where unity, determination, and a shared sense of purpose prevailed.

Apprising the house on projects and programmes being implemented in the district, he highlighted that during the current financial year, the council would, due to budgetary constraints, not be able to do maintenance of infrastructure as had been anticipated. The district he said, has been hard hit by lack of infrastructure maintenance.

Citing an example, he said despite the heavy rains received early this year, pothole patching would be a challenge as the allocated budget was far from meeting even a quarter of the roads maintenance requirement.

However, Mr Moreti said the Department of Roads has received funds amounting to P2.5 million, P795 000 of which would be used to procure cold premix as a mitigation measure to patch potholes on internal roads.

Furthermore, he said council was working round the clock to restore street lighting through a works tender to fix 90 vandalised streetlights in Maun.

In addition, 65 solar streetlights would be installed in various places in Maun this financial year, with 30 light fittings earmarked to replace defective ones, he stated.

Maun he said, was the darkest as most of the streets lights were down and thus posed a risk to motorists and pedestrians alike. ENDS