03 Sep 2025

Local empowerment remains pivotal in economic diversification strategies. 

Speaking during a kgotla meeting at GooMmopi in Molepolole on yesterday, the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshwegwa said in the advent of economic challenges, it was important to empower local communities. 

He said government was determined to empower Village Development Committees (VDCs) to run their own businesses. Mr Motshwegwa said the ministry planned to boost VDCs by allowing them to graduate from doing menial projects like cutting grass to bigger projects like building staff houses. 

He added that the public works programme would  be extended to maintenance of schools and clinics. Mr Motshegwa said the plan was to implement the new VDC strategic policy programme in the coming financial year that aimed at community empowerment. 

He said councils were also implored to make their own money through the rural industrialisation policy. He further said his ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education through vocational and technical colleges and brigades, VDCs would acquire vocational skills to help them stand on their own. Mr Motshwegwa said the plan was to implement the P2,500 VDC allowance next year, hoping that the economy would allow them to roll the programme out. 

Minister Motshegwa further said government had no intention to discontinue Ipelegeng programme,  but the plan was to empower beneficiaries so that they were  independent and establish their own businesses. 

Member of Parliament for Molepolole North Constituency, Mr Arafat Khan said government was committed to uplifting the lives of Batswana. Mr Khan said governemnt would fulfil  promises to Batswana, saying it was unfortunate that the current status of the economy had affected implementation.  

The economic status, he said had complelled government to halt  the district major projects such as a dual road from Metsimotlhabe to Molepolole. This project, Mr Khan said was going to create job opportunities as well as  reduce traffic congestion. 

Kgosi Lawrence Mhaladi said Bakwena were primarily concerned by three issues that needed urgent attention being water shortage, delay in plot allocations and waste water and sanitation network. He pleaded with residents to released land (ploughing fields) that was required by land board for residential plot allocations. ENDS