24 Jun 2026

Pursuant to government’s commitment to ensuring decent jobs and welfare of workers, a decision was made in December last year to reintroduce insourcing in the Public Service, North East District Council (NEDC) chairperson, Mr Mbaakanyi Smart has said.

Addressing a full council meeting on Monday Mr Smart said the decision directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to absorb all temporary employees employed such as cleaners, gardeners, nightwatchmen and gate keepers on permanent and pensionable basis.

In response to this, he said the NEDC absorbed all 19 cleaners who were engaged on temporary basis to the permanent and pensionable cadre but that one declined the offer, stating that she was pursuing further studies.

He indicated that the MDAs were still awaiting direction from government on insourcing of other targeted services like security services and waste management.

In relation to the use of local artisans in government project implementation, Councillor Smart stated that the NEDC continued to promote citizen economic empowerment through the engagement of local artisans in the implementation of government projects.

“Approximately 230 local artisans have been engaged, representing a cumulative expenditure of P6.2 million since the inception of this initiative,” he said, noting that the majority of the artisans had demonstrated commendable commitment and capability in delivering quality work.

Mr Smart indicated that projects successfully implemented through local artisans include maintenance of facilities such as that of six classrooms at Matsiloje Primary School, Themashanga and Mapoka health facilities, 20 staff houses across the district and the construction of Tshesebe kgotla shelter and culverts and drifts across the district.

Briefing the house on the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) under the National Development Plan, he said it represented a significant shift in Botswana’s economic development approach.

He said it strove for the country to move away from dependence on government spending and toward a more sustainable model driven by productivity, value addition, private sector investment and export-led growth.

“With that being said During the BETP Labs, two projects from the North East District were successfully presented, approved and granted a green light for implementation,” he said.

He noted that the NEDC and the Tati Land Board were currently facilitating land acquisition processes for Solar Plant by Fortune Spring Holdings (Pty) Limited.

He said once implemented, the project would create employment opportunities, particularly for the youth, while contributing to economic growth and diversification within the district.

He also indicated that in an endeavour to economically empower and enhance the people’s social wellbeing while reducing dependence on social safety nets, the North East District had implemented rehabilitation welfare programmes, which would ultimately reduce poverty amongst communities and promote self-sustenance.

“One of the programmes include Makaleng layers rehabilitation project, funded at the tune of P90,000 where four beneficiaries have been enrolled,” he said, adding that with regard to Mulambakwena self-funded peanut butter group, the project was operational and had passed the NARDI tests for safety and nutritional analysis.

Addressing the issue of waste management, he highlighted that the district was currently faced with inconsistent collection of waste due to financial constraints, citing that inadequate budget had limited council to engage private waste collectors.

“In the interim, council will engage waste collectors on short term basis to compliment the two refuse compactors owned by council,” he said, adding further that the NEDC had engaged eleven additional donkey carts to increase the total number to 58 to assist in refuse collection. ENDS