25 Jun 2024

Leaders in the North West region have suggested a short-term plan aimed at addressing issues of maladministration within community trusts while anticipating the enactment of the Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) bill.

Although they acknowledge that the bill holds promise for providing a lasting solution to the problems of mismanagement in community trusts, the leaders have voiced concerns about existing loopholes in the trusts’ constitutions.

These loopholes, they said had reportedly led to widespread mismanagement of funds in the trusts, ultimately hampering their operations.

It is argued that the board of trustees may have neglected their responsibilities, choosing to prioritise personal interests over the welfare of community assets.

The leaders said this during a full council meeting where they emphasised the urgency of implementing an intervention to address the current situation.

District Commissioner Mr Thabang Waloka highlighted the challenges his office faced due to issues arising from maladministration in community trusts.

He stressed the importance of unity among leadership to provide guidance to the trusts while awaiting the finalisation of the CBNRM bill, which is seen as a comprehensive solution.

Mr Waloka expressed optimism about the potential of the envisioned act as a game-changer.

Once enforced, it would necessitate all community trusts to undergo a process of de-registration and re-registration under the supervision of the CBNRM coordinator.

He said the legislation would compel trusts to focus more on meaningful developmental projects that directly benefit the communities they serve.

Speaking on the prevalent issues of fund mismanagement and governance challenges, Mr Waloka called for decisive action to address these obstacles.

He said there was need to confront the challenges, as they hindered communities from fully harnessing the benefits of their natural resources.

Highlighting the prevalence of legal disputes resulting from deficiencies in trust constitutions, Mr Waloka pointed out the significant financial burden faced by trusts due to legal battles arising from internal conflicts.

He said the reason government took the decision to ensure all trusts were registered with the registrar of the high court, he said, was to ensure the board took responsibility to account for the communities assets.

He reiterated that they expected community trusts to be undertaking some developments in their areas because they were generating millions out of their concession but that was not the case.

However, Mr Waloka informed the house that efforts had been made to request funding from the CBNRM office to convene a meeting which would attract all trusts’ boards and other stakeholders to look into the issue of maladministration and come up with a solution to arrest the practice.

Some councillors supported the planned meeting saying it could indeed help to come up with a short term solution pending the implementation of CBNRM act while some suggested that the constitutions could be reviewed with a view to include a clause on corruption.

Mr Lekonne Masoko of Shashe ward noted that it was time to take stringent measures against community trusts which were involved in funds mismanagement citing that it had become fashionable for trusts to take the legal route instead of solving issues internally.

He said trusts involved in such practices should be terminated from operating in a bid to protect the community’s assets.

Cllr Gaapale Makundinyane of Tsau/Semboyo/Makakung ward concurred that trusts were wasting communities’ funds on court cases leading to disturbance on their operations.

Through the income generated by community trusts, he said they expected them to augment government’s efforts towards developmental projects implementation but that was not happening.

He cited that Tsau, Semboyo, Makakung Community Trusts had already spent P100 000 on legal fees and wished the office of the district commissioner could intervene and ensure that the communities meaningfully benefit from the natural resources in their vicinity.

Cllr Kenson Kgaga noted that almost all trusts had cases before the court of law due to maladministration and called on the Technical Advisory Committee to make some recommendations to curb issues of financial mismanagement.

Community trusts members, he said, should be seen focusing on projects and stimulating employment opportunities to benefit their communities but they waste time fighting for positions.

“Let us investigate what could be the cause and take proper actions amongst trusts that fail to serve communities,” he added. ENDS