23 Aug 2013

North East District Council (NEDC) chairperson, Councillor City Kealotswe has expressed disappointment over the bad state of link roads within the district.

Opening the council meeting on Wednesday, Cllr Kealotswe said the situation was disturbing as the roads had not been graded since their takeover by the central government in 2010.

Citing the roads linking Matopi and Matsiloje as well as Kalakamati and Zwenshambe, the chairperson, who is also the councillor for Mapoka pleaded for the councillors’ guidance and support as to how the situation could be addressed to alleviate the suffering of the communities who used the roads on a daily basis.

Cllr Kealotswe also decried corrupt practices within local authorities, which he said were rampant, mostly during the early stages of the tendering process.

“Procurement, promotions and trainings are at times not done based on merit but on favour,” he said, issuing a warning that stern measures would be taken against those who engaged in such practices in the district.

The chairperson also informed the meeting that the supply and delivery of blankets for the last financial year had been marred with challenges as the supplier had supplied blankets of sub-standard quality.

As a result, he said, it was resolved that the blankets be collected from the beneficiaries and be replaced with ones that meet specifications.

Still on the same issue, he said the district was allocated 733 blankets by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, adding that districts had been advised to submit requests for additional supply to meet any shortages that might have been encountered.

On destitute housing for the 2012/13 financial year, he said, all the houses were at completion stage, further pointing out that the district had this financial year been allocated 25 destitute houses by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

Cllr Kealotswe also informed councillors that following the decision by government to sponsor orphans and other vulnerable children for further studies, NEDC had submitted 26 names for consideration.

“I would like to inform this house that our government has taken an affirmative action to sponsor all the orphans and vulnerable children who scored 29 points and above for further studies.”

He said that was yet another good decision taken by the government towards the attainment of the Vision 2016 goals. On yet another positive point, Cllr Kealotswe commended the organisers of the recent district trade show, which was held in Masunga for a job well done, expressing optimism that having learnt valuable lessons during the process of organising for the show, next year’s event would be bigger and more appealing.

He said events such as district shows were important as they served to expose, market as well as empower locals. ENDS