Constituency Fund millions divide Palapye
Lindiwe Mozola | Thursday May 11, 2017 15:31
Residents clashed over how the funds should be used and ahead of the meeting, some had taken to social media, threatening that they would derail Tuesday’s meeting if their wishes were not granted.
The meeting, called by the area legislator, Moiseraele Goya, was intended to reach a final decision.
While the residents were generally agreed that the funds should go towards improving roads, some called for the purchase of construction machines, while others wanted construction material.
Before the meeting even started, deputy customary court president, Kgosi Michael Maforaga, warned that whoever had come with the intention of disturbing the meeting, would face a heavy penalty.
“I have a print out of names of people who ranted via social media saying they would distract the meeting and cause havoc.
“I must tell whoever does that, that I have the power to charge them and send them to prison for a period of six months or fine them to pay a total of P1,000 instead. Therefore, be warned because I know some of you are amongst us here,” said the visibly angry Maforaga. For his part, Goya charged that councillors had challenged and changed the initial plans made for the funds, without addressing him.
He said earlier in the year, he had met with village leaders including councillors to brief them about the constituency funding.
“After the introspection and discussion in various wards, the common problem raised was the state of our roads that needs to be addressed,” he said.
“I then suggested we buy the machinery used for road construction such as caterpillars, paving and grading machines depending on the budget. These machines would make it easier to cover more roads in the village.
“The remaining funds would then be distributed among different wards to address their problems at ward level.”
Goya said he had then been surprised to hear that the Palapye Administrative Authority (PAA) had changed its mind.
“To my surprise, I hear that the PAA further met with other leaders in my absence at the community hall and came up with yet another plan. Their plan is to buy bricks and pave roads and moreover the move has been passed to the Central District Council for a final decision.
This has really shocked me because it shows that I am being undermined. Besides, there is no way we can have sustainable roads if we just pave them without first refurbishing them, which calls for those machineries.”
Goya told the kgotla that he had the final say at the end of the day, arguing that “even the law is on my side”.
“We are even lucky we are a democratic country as in other countries a Constituency Development Fund is handled exclusively by the MPs.
“The money is deposited directly into their accounts and they are given all the power to use it as they see fit. However, here our Government is giving the powers to the community to come up with their own projects something we should appreciate and embrace,” he said. For their part, residents said they support the MPs decision and warned councillors against politicising the programme or hijacking it.
Kgosi Maforaga said the developments showed that councillors were “undermining the decisions taken in his Kgotla” and the “will of the residents” even though it had been made clear that “the funds belong to the community”.
“It seems councillors want to take decisions on behalf of the community, something we will not entertain. If they want to politicise this issue, they should bring it on as I am not afraid of politics and I will fight for my people also the political way,” he said.
Thomadithotse councillor, Lesego Setlhare accused the Kgosi of not being fair, saying the traditional leader was also part of the PAA and the decisions therein.
“Kgosi Maforaga was present when we took a decision different from that of the MP,” he said.
Goya wrapped up the kgotla meeting by saying the final decision would be to buy machinery, a statement met with a round of applause from the now pacified villagers.