10 Mar 2026

While the partnership between the public and private sector is essential in driving developmental projects, it is also critical that communities are effectively included in the development drive.

The assertion was made by some stakeholders during a district leadership conference to reflect on development plan and strategies to collaborate in development implementation to improve livelihoods.

The stakeholders appreciated the move by the North West District to pursue corporate partnerships and community driven funding initiative to complement government budget allocations and improve financial independence. The basis of their argument was that strong community engagement can also reduce contentious priorities during formal adoption of development plans.

Stakeholders also stated that community based organisations like community trusts were important partners for government in driving infrastructure developments and supported the idea to involve them in project implementation.

Some community trust in natural resource rich areas, generating millions in revenue annually, but failing to venture into meaningful developmental projects have welcomed the strategy by the district, calling for each trust to put aside 40 per cent of their revenue and channel it into developmental projects.

“This is a welcome move for community trust to augment government coffers particularly for projects which have been not funded. The arrangement will also motivate trusts to do things right and ensure successful execution of projects,” said Kgosi Gokgathang Moalosi of Sankoyo.

He said some community trust were generating between P12 million and P15 million annually, but failing to implement noticeable development projects to benefit their communities. Furthermore, Kgosi Moalosi noted that for collaboration to genuinely drive community development, the lines of communication must be open and all parties embrace the standards of transparency.

He said government must also remove legal bottlenecks to increase investor confidence citing that no investor will wait for some months for approval of permits or licences. He highlighted that they once had an investor who showed interest in renovating their clinic, only to wait for three months before the project was given a go ahead.

Kgosi Merafhe Motlhala of Khwai  concurred with Kgosi Moalosi that for the district to be more attractive and ready for collaboration, government should get rid of barriers hindering investors.

For his part, North West District Commissioner, Mr Thabang Waloka emphasised that the district will be strict in monitoring to ensure villages with Community Trusts benefit from the generated revenue. Mr Waloka said Community Trusts were capable of boosting the economy through infrastructure development, implementing sustainable income generating projects to improve local livelihoods.

He added that Community Trusts generated enough money to be injected in projects such as construction of roads, streetlights, health facilities and others that have direct economic impact on the community. BOPA