Councils� innovations need monitoring

Mmegi Editor | Thursday July 30, 2015 11:50

Gaborone and Francistown city councils have taken lead, engaging infrastructure development to ensure that investor confidence is boosted, with a long-term view to ensure private sector investment.

The South East South District Council (SESDC) has gone a step further. Information reaching Mmegi is that local authorities have resolved to avail close to 100 hectares of land for interested developers through a Public Private Partnership arrangement.

What the authorities have in mind is the construction of malls, business centres, factories and other entities that will create jobs for the residents of the district.

After many years of struggling to get funding from central government to improve the capital’s road infrastructure, the Gaborone City Council (GCC) convinced the International Monetary Fund to inject P9billion into the project. It is expected therefore that for the next 10 years, the city’s prospects will improve and boost investor confidence.

There are still other district councils which have joined foreign municipalities for partnerships and exchange of ideas.

What we are seeing is local authorities slowly gaining independence from central government and finding alternative sources of funding. But this has its challenges.

With little or no expertise in public administration, the sudden self-discovery and need to go solo could potentially present fertile ground for corruption, as members of the public are not privy to behind-the-scenes goings on in secret meetings between those seeking funding and the financiers.

We therefore encourage a certain level of transparency be upheld in all these dealings, since they involve property owned by the public.

As much as it is ideal for local government to be autonomous or find independent sources of finances, recent history has taught us to be vigilant. A case in point is how commendable independent projects of the government driven businesses can be abused, is that of the Botswana Meat Commission.

Investigations by the National Assembly into what led to the collapse of BMC revealed how some managers at the abattoir connived with some cattle barons in Gantsi to instigate the collapse of the commission, so they could benefit by opening their own private abattoir.  This was a clear case abuse of power by managers entrusted to run public property.

The BMC issue should be a wake up call to ensure that there are stringent measures in place to protect public resources against personal enrichment.

 It is  therefore is reasonable that the public to demand transparent processes whenever transactions take place, and for the central government to keep a close watch on what is transpiring at district councils. It is also important for government to be regularly reminded of its obligation to serve and distribute developments fairly,  regardless of which political parties the districts have voted for.

Today’s thought

“It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes.”

 

-Andrew Jackson