21 Jan 2025

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ignatius Moswaane has underscored the need for political and administrative leaders to work together toward a common purpose of serving communities.

He implored the newly-elected political leaders to familiarise themselves with government policies and procedures to ensure effective teamwork with various government departments for the development of their areas.

“It is very important to inform yourselves on key documents such as the National Development Plan, Urban Development Plan and the annual development plans for various wards in your areas to guide you in delivering your mandate,” he said during a leadership consultative meeting held in Jwaneng on Monday.

Additionally, the assistant minister called on government officers to align their plans with the new government’s manifesto. He urged them to ensure that projects were delivered on time and within budget to avoid unnecessary cost overruns.

While he assured them that employees would be gauged on merit, he said plans were underway to conduct an independent forensic audit to curb corrupt practices in public entities. He also said councils should ensure that all building plans conformed to the right standards to withstand harsh climatic conditions.

“Buildings should suit the required standards and be properly approved by council, particularly in this era of climate change which results in adverse weather conditions,” he noted.

He noted that the government was committed to delivering quality service to Batswana, with infrastructure development being top on their priority list. He also called on the relevant authorities to ensure that schools were adequately equipped and supplies delivered on time to avoid disruption of studies.

“Ensure that you plan things on time for supplies to be ready for the school terms. With proper planning you will be able to avoid inconveniences and ensure a smooth learning process in schools,” he said.

Furthermore, he urged council to facilitate the informal sector through provision of decent market stalls to enhance organised economic activity. He said the informal sector was the biggest employer and therefore their role in economic growth could not be downplayed.

He appealed to the council to strategically position the market stalls for ease of access to the market. He also encouraged the council to expedite licensing of businesses to promote the growth of the local economy.

He said the council should consider partnering with the private sector for land servicing in order to keep up with the growing demand for residential and commercial plots in the township. Mr Moswaane further noted that plans were underway to review the conditions of service for dikgosi to restore their dignity and protect their rights.

He said as custodians of culture, dikgosi not only deserved respect but their conditions of service also had to be aligned with their stature in society.

Jwaneng mayor, Mr Ronica Ntsimako decried shortage of serviced land, which he said hampered the economic growth of the town. He said the exorbitant rentals in Jwaneng had pushed a lot of people working in Jwaneng to commute from Sese village.

The mayor also raised concern about inadequate infrastructure maintenance for government buildings, owing to shortage of funds. ENDS