Africa-Press – Botswana. Mabutsane District has allocated over 50 per cent of its 2024/2025 financial year development budget towards the Ipelegeng programme.
Addressing a full council meeting on Tuesday, the council chairperson, Mr Kgopolo Setammere-Ramosesane said from the approved P37.7 million budget, a total of P21. 3 million would be injected in the Ipelegeng programme towards implementation of the drought mitigation measures, while P6.8 million had been allocated to Constituency Community Projects.
Additionally, he noted that the rest of the budget was allocated to various projects which include Orphan Care, primary schools maintenance and backlog eradication, among others.
“An amount of P3 257 000 has been allocated to Orphan Care, while P2 255 000 has been allocated to maintenance of primary schools, P1 887 000 has been allocated to primary school backlog eradication programme, P1 million has been allocated to Kutuku and Kanaku RADS farms, while P560 000 has been allocated to RADP and Destitute housing and lastly P500 000 allocated to maintenance of tribal facilities,” said Mr Setammere/Ramosesane.
However, he noted that from the total budget, the council had so far received P700 000 for Ipelegeng, P3.3million for Orphan Care and P500 000 for maintenance of tribal facilities, while the rest of funds would be disbursed once tenders are awarded.
The chairman further said Revenue Support Grant (RSG) expenditure from the disbursed P56. 3million stood at 84 per cent as at the end of August, while the expenditure for Personal Emoluments was P24.4million against the P33.8 million, owing to vacant posts among other contributory factors.
“The low expenditure is attributed to vacant posts and members’ terminal benefits which will be paid by October 2024. I want to emphasise to you that savings from salaries are barely vired and as such act is sanctioned by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development under very strict controls,” he said.
While the chairman noted that Establishment Expenses expenditure was within budget, he said there was over expenditure for Running Expenses and Special Expenses votes, which he attributed to the need to relief destitute and security services.
Regarding own revenue sources, Mr Setammere-Ramosesane said the council managed 86 per cent collection rate, due to low collection of sanitation fees, advertising signs and Matimela fund, among others.
He said even though the planned mass collection of Matimela fees could not materialise in the last quarter, plans were underway to implement on revised dates.
He also noted that council was considering to water livestock for the Mabutsane community at a fee.
The project will be piloted for a period of six months and will be reviewed to determine its sustainability,” said Mabutsane District Council Chairman.
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