Strengthening local governance through decentralisation

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday January 27, 2025 15:59

Addressing the councillors, Motshegwa said this will be achieved by decentralising responsibilities and resources to local councils, enabling them to implement development projects efficiently, on time, and within budget. He pointed out that the aim is to provide essential services directly to the people. Motshegwa emphasised that decentralisation is key to improving overall service delivery. The minister further said it will streamline decision-making, boost coordination, and foster national and local democracy, ultimately promoting sustainable development. 'The primary goal of the National Decentralisation Policy is to foster equitable and sustainable development by transferring decision-making powers and resources to local governments,' he said. 'This empowers citizens to actively participate in planning, financing, implementing, and evaluating local projects while holding their leaders accountable,' he added. Additionally, Motshegwa highlighted that the policy seeks to reorganise and strengthen local governments, enabling them to deliver services more effectively. It will also ensure citizens have a stronger voice in public decision-making.

He also mentioned that the development of a Decentralisation Policy is part of an undertaking by the government of Botswana, to create a governance framework that defines and aligns the roles and responsibilities of central government, local governments and non-state actors to drive decentralised, inclusive, and responsive service delivery and sustainable local development. With that regard, the Minister said with the above goals, specific objectives will be pursued such as to empower local governments as the key drivers of good governance, sustainable and responsive service delivery and local development, define the status, roles, structures and relationships of different levels of government and actors in local governance, service delivery and local development; Strengthen the administrative and human resource capacity of local governments, line ministries and other actors at the local level to ensure quality service delivery and promote local development; enhance effective and efficient implementation and monitoring capacity, in service delivery and local development; strengthen accountability and transparency of national and local leaders and institutions, including non-state actors to the communities that they serve; enhance the responsiveness of planning, financing, management and control of service delivery and local development processes by all sectors to local needs; and also to ensure adequate, predictable flow and efficient use of resources in support of inclusive and effective service delivery and sustainable local development among others. The minister further said this major public sector reform programme will result in central government ministries remaining and focusing on the responsibility for initiating and formulating national policies, national strategies, laws, work with local governments to set targets and prepare sectoral budgets, provision of technical support and monitoring of the implementation processes.

He pointed out that local governments (councils) in a devolved system will on the other hand be responsible for formulating local policies, bye-laws and implementing national policies and strategies through district and/or local development plans, taking into consideration their unique local needs, priorities and resources. He said the Decentralisation Policy is designed to help address key national challenges, including: citizens’ participation and social accountability, economic diversification and local economic development, youth employment & empowerment and public sector efficiency including coordination of sub-national entities. Motshegwa said no national matters will continue to be resolved at national level while local issues are resolved at local level (clear task division). “It will reduce overlap of responsibilities and make service delivery more effective and efficient,” he said.