Auditor General lambast councils
Wednesday, March 01, 2023 | 370 Views |
![GCC. PIC PHATSIMO KAPENG](https://cdn4.premiumread.com/?url=https://www.mmegi.bw/mmegi/uploads/images/2023/03/01/66119.jpg&w=800&q=72&f=jpg&t=1)
GCC. PIC PHATSIMO KAPENG
Writing in her latest report, which was tabled before Parliament last week, Pulane Letebele found that rates arrears owed to councils had risen to P627.8 million in the 2021-22 financial year, from P548.1 million in 2020-21 and P495.2 million in 2019/20.
Rates are the key source of revenue councils can raise for themselves, as government has announced that it intends to cut its subventions for local authorities, particularly those near urban areas. Letebele also found that rural councils were equally failing to following up on debts owed, with these arrears mounting into the hundreds of millions over the years.
The BDP as a party known to have ample resources has always held its primaries well in time, but this time around that was not the case. The first leg of the primaries was held last weekend, with the final leg being billed for the coming weekend. This time around, the BDP failed to shine in its primary elections. The elections were chaotic; most if not all polling stations didn't open at the specified time of 6am. Loyal BDP members braved the...