30 Jul 2025

National Local Economic Development (LED) commissioner, Mr Mompati Seitiso, has urged the Hukuntsi District Council to look beyond traditional government support and actively pursue investor funding to advance its local economic development strategy.

Speaking at the opening of a five-day Hukuntsi District Local Economic Development and Training Workshop on Monday, Mr Seitiso challenged the council to heed the President’s call for local authorities to drive development from the ground up.

“It is time councils stop relying solely on government funding. We must adopt a new mindset, that promotes innovation, investment attraction, and business creation within our districts,” said Mr Seitiso.

He proposed the establishment of a district investment company that would allow the council to engage in business ventures that directly benefited the local community through job creation and revenue generation.

He added that such a company could work in on the sidelines with village development committees and trusts, to ensure broader community empowerment.

As an example of potential economic opportunity, Mr Seitiso suggested that, the council could develop a solar energy project and sell electricity to the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC).

“This would not be competition with BPC, but rather a strategic partnership that fosters business growth,” he explained.

To protect and promote such initiatives, Mr Seitiso urged councils to develop district-specific motions and bylaws aimed at supporting local businesses and facilitating investor-friendly environments.

“We need policies that ensure ease of doing business for both local entrepreneurs and incoming investors,” he stressed.

Highlighting the importance of strategic direction, Mr Seitiso called on the council to craft a comprehensive Local Economic Development Strategy tailored to the district’s strengths and needs.

He emphasised that successful LED efforts required inclusive community participation and the harnessing of local talent and ideas.

“There are brilliant minds within our communities. Councils must ensure they are mobilised and included in shaping development initiatives,” he said.

Mr Seitiso also pointed to the value of decentralisation, saying that if properly implemented, it could enrich councils and boost regional economies.

Furthermore, he urged the council to tap into the tourism sector, noting that its development could significantly uplift the livelihoods of many residents.

Mr Seitiso expressed confidence in the council’s ability to design and implement a transformative economic development strategy, adding that he was adamant that the district had the potential to grow to greater heights.

He also highlighted the benefits of decentralisation, urging councils to seize the opportunity to control more resources and drive local wealth creation. Tourism, he added, was another sector with untapped potential that could uplift livelihoods across the district.

For his part, Hukuntsi District Council chairperson, Mr Steven Lekgobero shared that Local Economic Development could help create multiple income streams, thereby in turn creating employment for the community.

Mr Lekgobero noted that although the district had been implementing LED on a small scale, the time had come to scale up efforts to boost council revenue.

“We are now compelled to implement LED at a large scale if we are to grow our local economy and become self-sustaining,” he stated.

However, Mr Lekgobero also pointed out the need to distinguish between LED efforts aimed at assisting the public and those geared toward generating income for the council.

“It is important that we strike a balance and clearly separate the two approaches so that both the council and the public benefit meaningfully,” he said.

In closing, Mr Seitiso expressed optimism about the district’s potential, adding that he was confident that with the right strategy and commitment, the district can grow to greater heights. ENDS