Africa-Press – Botswana. The Jwaneng Town Council’s recurrent budget for the 2023/24 financial year is expected to improve service delivery and close performance gaps experienced in the last financial year.
Addressing a virtual full council meeting on Tuesday, Jwaneng Mayor, Ms Olga Ditsie noted that the current budget had a slight increase compared to the previous year, with the council generating P13 834 700 while P97 287 344 was from the Revenue Support Grant.
“We should have faith and belief that the increase in the budget will close the performance gaps experienced in the last year and improve our service delivery to the community,” she said.
However, Ms Ditsie implored the relevant council structures to strengthen their revenue collection mechanisms and devise new revenue sources to maintain a healthy revenue flow for the council.
She urged them to double their efforts in collecting revenue through waste bin fees, advertising, lease rentals as well as the stadium fees, which has a potential to generate money for the council.
“Therefore it is imperative that revenue sources which have not been doing well like advertising, stadium fees and lease rentals be addressed.
During the current financial year, a total of P200 000 has been set aside to carry out maintenance works at the council stadium.
The council paid attention to the facility because it has the capacity to generate significant income once it is in use,” she noted.
She underscored the need to align the council’s processes and systems with the President’s Reset Agenda in order to transform Jwaneng into a competitive economic area, through sustainable and diversified economic activities.
Ms Ditsie urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure that public projects were delivered on time and within budget.
She noted that even though procurement for street lighting materials was expected to be complete by June, there was need to closely monitor the situation to avoid increased crime fuelled by dark spots.
“This is one aspect of our service that is inconsistent and worrisome,” she said. “Streets are either partially lit or dark. As much as we are expecting the situation to improve with the procurement of the materials, we need close monitoring. People are not safe in the dark areas and these could be conducive for criminal activities.”
To maintain a clean environment, Ms Ditsie said, plans were underway to resuscitate ward clean up competitions as well as engage stakeholders for the implementation of the environmental regeneration strategy.
She said those initiatives would enhance community participation and contribution towards an improved appearance of the township.
Responding to the Mayor’s address, Masa-a-sele ward councillor, Mr Mokganedi Morwaagae raised a concern about the escalating crime rate fuelled by non-illumination of the streets.
He said the street lights needed urgent attention as they expected an influx of people during the Desert Race to be held in June.
Mr Tshokodiso Lesetedi, the councillor for Kgalagadi ward, said even though some street lights were operational in his ward, there was concern for overgrown trees that hampered the efforts to light the streets.
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