03 Sep 2025

The Kweneng District Council (KDC) leadership insists that procurement procedures were followed when securing an official residence for the council chairperson.

In a recent full council meeting, KDC chief development planning officer Ms Masego Banda explained that an Expression of Interest (EoI) to acquire executive houses was floated and a response was received by the Estate Office on June 19, 2025. The EoI also included accommodation for the deputy chairperson, she said. 

Her explanation came after Sebele Ward councillor, Mr Mokwaledi Leo raised a concern about the accountability and transparency of the council over procurement of the official residence of the chairperson.

Ms Banda however said the house was inspected to check compliance with leasing requirements and was found to be in order.  An assessment report with recommendations, she said, was then submitted to oversight for consideration and award.  As a result, she said a three-year lease agreement was subsequently signed on July 14, 2025 at a monthly rental of P5,000.

When expressing his concern earlier on during the same sitting, Mr Leo said the matter was raised before with the council secretary, but was deliberately ignored. He therefore demanded that clarity be provided on the procedure followed in securing the residence. He wanted to know whether there was an Expression of Interest floated, and how much rent the council was paying for the chairperson’s accommodation.

“When we talk about accountability and transparency, these are the things we are talking about. For an administration to fail to address such issues is unacceptable, and we cannot allow that,” Mr Leo said.

On the Constituency Community Projects (CCP) initiative, Mr Leo raised alarm over reports that vehicles were being procured for offices of Members of Parliament in the district without following laid-down regulations.

He argued that the council had not been presented with any such plans through the official report of the District Development Committee, suggesting that any procurement outside proper CCP channels would be irregular.

“If indeed vehicles are being procured for MPs, this is a programme initiated outside the regulations of the CCP, and we would be irresponsible to endorse or allow such a process to take place in this district,” he warned.

Mr Leo also bemoaned the poor state of road infrastructure in Sebele, lamenting that the chairperson’s address had once again failed to reflect the dire situation.  ENDS