- ODC, NWDC get P20 million and P32 million respectively
- ODC fears circumstances could repeat themselves as funds only cover arrears of four months.
- NWDC funds will also cover next wages until December, 2025
- ODC’s full council, committee meetings remain suspended until Minister Motshegwa’s authorisation
- councillors ready to resume their duties as per their previous resolution
Following the delayed payments of Ipelegeng, the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs has finally released funds to settle the outstanding arrears for both Okavango District Council (ODC) and the North West District Council (NWDC).
Okavango District Council has received around P20 million while the North West District Council has gotten P32 million.
For some months, the Ministry has been struggling to pay thousands of the beneficiaries across all the districts on time which it said was due to the broader financial constraints stemming from the country’s low economic performance.
Confirming the payment, ODC deputy chairman, Brian Samoka indicated that on Monday they received around P20 million which is enough to cover the four consecutive months the beneficiaries have worked without receiving payment. He noted that that they have started paying the beneficiaries from this week and the process will continue until next week.
However, Samoka grumbled that the money will only cover for those owed months and get depleted fearing that circumstances could repeat themselves.
“The truth of the mater is that we will still be struggling going forward because we didn’t receive funds of the entire year as it was the case in the past years,” noted the deputy chairman who is hopeful that the ministry will disburse other funds timely.
Should that not happen, Samoka indicated that they will take part of the other money they have also received which is meant to fund other operations of the council.
The outspoken council emphasized that government should come out clear as to whether it has enough funds to run the Ipelegeng programme or not. “If not, it should release people and stop the programme because they cannot continue to work without being paid, that’s slavery.”
Meanwhile, as per the directive of the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa ODC’s full council and committee meetings remains suspended indefinitely until his authorisation.
Motshegwa had previously accused the councillors of playing politics since ODC is Botswana Congress Party (BCP) controlled.
But Samoka who refuted the allegations said from now onwards they will be engaging the minister and put pressure on him to allow council services to proceed. He indicated that as according to their resolution, since the ministry has settled the Ipelegeng debt, they as councillors are ready to resume their duties.
Meanwhile, NWDC chairman, Itumeleng Kelebetseng confirmed that in the beginning of this week they received around P32 million being payments of Ipelegeng workers. Different from ODC situation, Kelebetseng noted that with the received amount, they will be able to settle the outstanding three months arrears that was owed to their Ipelegeng workers and also cover their next wages until December 2025. “Remember, NWDC spends around P5.4 million monthly on Ipelegeng wages, so we believe that we will be able to pay them until the end of this year,” said the council chairman.
Efforts to get clarity from Minister Motshegwa regarding the disparity was not successful as his phone rang unanswered.
