Africa-Press – Botswana. Senior management of local authorities have been urged to embrace result-orientated mechanisms to ensure that projects are completed within time and budget.
In his address at the development and technical services retreat which was attended by council secretaries and town clerks in Serowe yesterday, the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Setlhabelo Modukanele implored them to adhere to principles and values of accountability, good governance and ethical conduct.
He said the retreat coincided with the implementation of the ministry’s five-year Strategy and Transformation Plan of 2021 to 2025, anchored on six pillars which included provision of effective and efficient local services and infrastructure.
Mr Modukanele said the plan was aligned to President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s Reset and Reclaim Agenda, Transitional National Development Plan and Vision 2036.
He said the success of the ministry’s strategic plan hinged on the performance of the development and technical services cadre.
Mr Modukanele said government was committed to bringing services closer to people as part of the decentralisation programme.
He said local authority leadership were catalysts and drivers of rural and urban development through the provision of good and quality infrastructure.
“The more you develop your infrastructure, the more people graduate from the debilitating effects of poverty,” he said.
He said developments bring about sustainable employment opportunities and inclusive growth.
Mr Modukanele said the onus was on leadership to go beyond their limitations to fast-track and facilitate village economies, rapid urban development and rural industries.
He said creating the requisite infrastructure would allow villages and other settlements to grow, sustain the people and equally address challenges associated with urbanisation, as increasing numbers of people migrate to urban areas for better living opportunities.
Mr Modukanele said some challenges have nothing to do with funding or availability of resources, but ineffectiveness on the part of implementers, leading to delays and substandard execution of projects, despite considerable amount of investment in infrastructure development.
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