Tutume council leaders forego 'expensive' mayoral chains
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday March 14, 2023 06:00
They have instead decided to keep the ones they have and not spend on getting new ones. Kehitile and Masole are UDC councillors. The chains are worn on official and government occasions to dignify the office of a respective council chairperson, mayor, or deputies.
The expensive chains were to be bought during the upcoming financial year at a combined figure of around P531,000. To be precise, Kehitile’s chain was to cost P300,000 while Masole’s chain was to be purchased at an amount of P230,000.
The cheaper chains are worth a combined figure of P18,000. They were purchased last month as a temporary measure when the council transitioned into a full district. Kehitile told The Monitor last week that it would not have been prudent for the council to go on with plans to purchase the expensive chains while other competing priorities had to be dealt with.
“The P500,000 will now go towards capacitating councillors and council staff among others. We had a meeting with my deputy and we reached a consensus to divert the money to other council initiatives that have to be attended to as a matter of urgency.” He added: “We will use the cheaper chains that were purchased recently as an interim measure when the council was upgraded from a Sub-District to a full District.
They are still new and can be used for several years.” Kehitile said their move was welcomed by other councillors in the district. He added that the move is an important step towards encouraging cost-cutting in the public service especially at a time when government coffers are said to be closer to getting depleted. “Leaders have to lead by example.
We cannot be encouraging or preaching cost-cutting in the public service and then approve the purchase of items which are not urgently required for the running of the council such as the mayoral chains (because they serve our interests).” Tutume District Council secretary, Pedzani Mahama confirmed that Kehitile and his deputy have decided against the purchase of expensive mayoral chains. She labelled the move ‘bold and well-thought,’ given the fact that the council has other competing priorities.
When addressing the media last week, President Mokgweetsi Masisi disclosed that the country’s coffers are dwindling. As a result, he said government is working on several initiatives to cut unnecessary costs. Among the planned initiatives is downgrading the travel package of senior government officials from business to economy class.