GCC dodges Kweneng over P8m rubbish bill

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Wednesday November 4, 2015 18:00

 

Yesterday, KwDC chairman, Jeffrey Sibisibi told Mmegi that the debt, which stretches back to 2009, was a sore point among Kweneng councillors as the local authority had been forced to divert its own funds in order to maintain the landfill.

The GCC, on behalf of its residents, has been using the Gamodubu landfill, since sealing up its own dumping site, located in the city’s eastern environs.

“The debt has been accumulating over the years because the City Council has not been paying its fair contribution towards the maintenance of the landfill,” he said.

According to Sibisibi, while KwDC are the custodians of the landfill, three other local authorities being GCC, Kgatleng, and the South-East district also use it. The other councils are paying their way for the landfill, while GCC, which is the biggest user, is defaulting.

Sibisibi said the GCC failure to pay had resulted in Kweneng Council diverting funds meant for development towards maintenance of the landfill. “The issue has been very topical among our councillors. Even during the past council session the matter was raised,” he said. The chairman said the GCC has been engaged on the matter and arrangements have been made to clear the debt.

“There is commitment now from their side. Last month they paid P700,000 and have promised to settle the debt. I am hopeful they will do as expected. “I will be happy to report to councillors in the next meeting that at least there is progress,” he said.

For his part, Kweneng District council secretary, Wazha Tema said the district was overwhelmed by the amount of waste from Gaborone.

“Waste management has become a complex challenge for us since we own the biggest landfill in the country. “Gaborone contributes 85 percent of the waste disposed off at the Gamodubu landfill. We service GC. Their waste has become our responsibility and we act like their dormitory,” he said.

Gaborone City Council officials were unavailable for comment yesterday, with mayor Kagiso Thutlwe’s phone ringing unanswered.