Thutlwe welcomes ESP but�
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday March 22, 2016 15:14
He said for any policy to have desirable outcomes, such policy must come from the people on the ground. “We advise government to adopt a bottom-up approach in the formulation of policies in the future. Councillors are handicapped to explain to their constituents what ESP is and what it entails. How then can residents benefit from the ESP when they lack sufficient information on it,” said Thutlwe.
The mayor said the other dark side of ESP is on implementation and monitoring of the projects funded by ESP.
The mayor said in order to minimise patronage, corruption and tenderprenurship from the ESP projects, there is need to establish an ESP monitoring and implementation of projects. He said the award of such projects should be done above board.
Meanwhile for the year 2016/17 financial year under ESP, Gaborone City Council (GCC) has been funded to construct nine classroom blocks, one eight-cubicle toilet blocks and 10 staff houses for Boswa Primary School.
“Another project funded under the ESP is the construction of a customary court at Broadhurst. We also have a number of ESP projects that will be implemented by other government ministries.
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology will be maintaining the department of buildings and engineering services depot. The Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism will be developing the Gaborone/Bonnington farm and fencing of Gaborone botanical gardens, while Ministry of Transport and Communications will be upgrading the Gaborone/Boatle road to a dual carriageway,” said Thutlwe during a full council meeting yesterday.
On other issues, the mayor informed the council that 17 applicants had benefited from the building materials loans scheme during the current financial year at a total of P824,900. He said 10 applications amounting to P477,600 are in the process of being considered. Thutlwe said repayments of loans are very low with only P1.8m having been collected during the current financial year leaving a debt of P14 million.
“Out of 5,515 plots that were to be converted from certificate of rights to title deeds from April 2015, only 880 plots have been converted depicting only 15 percent. The main challenges are unresolved family disputes over the deceased’s estates and outstanding service levy arrears which have to be cleared before converting,” he said.