Swedish change of government costs Lobatse, SPTC partnership
Onalenna Kelebeile | Friday June 13, 2014 16:03
Selebi-Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) Mayor Tebogo Matlhogonolo has confirmed that Trollhattan Municipality has withdrawn from the partnership leaving Lobatse Town Council (LTC) and SPTC the only partners in the arrangement.
He explained that Sweden changed government after its general elections and those who supported the initiative were voted out and the new government felt that the partnership was not their priority.
“They officially wrote to us so the partnership does not exist. We and Lobatse will then have to look for other partners,” he added.
He however said the withdrawal of Trollhattan Municipality from the partnership has not affected the council much because they had not yet started anything tangible.
“We had however hoped that the partnership will benefit us a lot on the aspect of waste management,” he added.
The mayor added that LTC and SPTC remained committed to the project and the joint technical team has produced a project proposal for the indulgence of the prospective sponsors.
The waste management project aims to reduce waste generation and promote best waste management practices in industrial spaces, commercial premises and dwelling.
The project also promotes environmentally sound waste collection, re-use and re-cycling as well as investigating the possibilities of implementation of new technical solutions.
The waste management project also aims to mainstream waste management concepts into local development principles by promoting entrepreneurship in recycling and reuse of waste material.
Preliminary estimates have shown that over P4 million is needed to set up 11 pilot sites in the two towns where waste recycling, production of compost manure and bio-gas production can be undertaken.
The mayor said council has done well in trying to address the issue of waste around the town and added that BCL assisted by repairing the council’s refuse compactor trucks.
“We are currently in the process of outsourcing waste collection in Botshabelo and Mekoro areas, so the waste situation has improved,” he added.
However, Matlhogonolo expressed serious concern over the company engaged by council to collect skips.
“The company has not performed to council’s satisfaction since its engagement, hence putting the council in a bad position.
“There have been suggestions to have its contract terminated, but we felt we should leave it to complete its term because it ends this month,” he added.