09 May 2024

The Central region’s Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA) seeks to undertake projects as part of its legacy while simultaneously devising resolutions that can help better the lives of Batswana.

Speaking during the regional conference in Bobonong, Wednesday, BALA chairperson, Mr Jordan Makhura challenged members and delegates to heed President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s clarion call to improving the lives of Batswana.

Mr Makhura said as a result, the conference should hasten to come up with resolutions intended to, amongst other things, hatch and nurture projects especially at the association’s various owned lands.

“For example, we have a plot in Palapye. What can we advise the executive committee to do with it?” quizzed Mr Makhura, who also indicated that the association had a horse-racing track in Palapye, which could be developed and host some annual racing event. 

He said despite BALA having been in existence since 1983, the association was yet to devise and implement impactful projects and challenged the Central region, made up of Mahalapye, Palapye, Serowe and Boteti District Councils, to aim beyond its borders.

“I want to see the region having a project that we can even showcase internationally,” he said despite the term of the current office-bearers being six months shy of expiry. 

Although cognisant of the political wing of BALA comprising members of different political parties, Mr Makhura appealed that they steered clear of their political inclinations and overtures when deliberating on BALA affairs. 

Also, he appealed to members and delegates to respect democracy with its tenet of majority rule.

For his part, BALA Central’s projects officer, Mr Thomas Kgethenyane called on members of local economic development units at the member councils to profile potential projects to undertake at their areas and submit to his office.

With only six months left in his office, Mr Kgethenyane, who is also a councillor for Khumaga-Moreomaoto, said with profiled projects ideas his office could chart a way for BALA projects before their term elapsed. Meanwhile, the conference was attended by executive committee, commissioners (public officers) and chairpersons of different units within BALA structures. ENDS