The North West District has approved the proposed range of community projects for the 2025/2026 financial year, with a grand total of P30 million covering Maun East, West and North constituencies with each being allocated P10 million.
After the district leadership convened the district stakeholder engagement conference in Maun recently for consultation, the proposed projects thereafter passed the final structure of North West District Council full meeting for approval.
This is despite some few differences between some councillors and their area Members of Parliament over prioritised projects by the latter against those wished by the former. This as MPs are said to be the final signatory of the funds.
To highlight, in the Maun North Constituency, some councillors are not pleased that the area Member of Parliament, Dumelang Saleshando has made a decision to prioritise improving the quality of education over their other proposed projects.
Though he understands and agrees that the MP wants to improve the quality of education looking at its dissatisfying current status, Councillor for Matlapana-Shorobe, Kobamelo Baikgodisi however argues that aspect should not only be the focus as he felt that there are other equally important issues which has been overlooked. He highlighted shortage of roads infrastructure regretting that Saleshando should have not focused on only one aspect.
Other councillors decried poor consultations, biased selection of wards for proposed projects as well as the significance of some selected projects over others. “Myself I had wanted us to construct a fence for Boro Primary School instead of installing a tower light at Kgosing-Kubung Ward,” Councillor for Boro-Senonnori, Busang Letshabo also complained.
When previously faced with the same objection during a kgotla meeting, over his decision to prioritise improving the quality of education over their other proposed projects, Saleshando had reasoned that as the final signatory of the funds, it is therefore his responsibility to ensure that the programme bears fruits. He noted that just like any other leader who set himself goals he has also made a decision to prioritise improving the quality of education in the district looking at its current status over other things.
Saleshando argued that the constituency funds were not established for government to then let go its responsibilities to address people’s needs highlighting construction of internal roads and other infrastructures.
Meanwhile, proposed projects for Maun North Constituency include construction of a computer lab with server room and equipping of the centre at Bonatla Primay School, a boundary wall at Matlola Primary School and installation of a tower light at Kgosing Ward.
As for Maun East, the projects include, continuation of Maitlamo pavement road at Old Disana, construction of Kgotla shelter at New Disana, drilling & equipping of borehole for drinking at Polokabatho and construction of extension office at the Matshwane Kgotla. There is also planned construction of extension Office in Phuduhudu, continuation of Xeredomo borehole, drilling & equipping of borehole for drinking at Mmumosweu, drilling & equipping of borehole for drinking at Kookale and maintenance and electrification of VDC houses in Chanoga.
Still in Maun East, the area Member of Parliament, Goretetse Kekgonegile has approved for the drilling & equipping of borehole for drinking at Mawana Boseja, drilling & equipping of borehole for drinking at Samedupi 2, Extension of Kgotla shelter at Boseja Kubung Kgotla and installation of a tower light at Maun Senior Secondary School.
Further to these, the constituency plans to drill and equipping of borehole for drinking at Xobe 2, drill & equipping of borehole for drinking at Dauga, maintain a Day Care Centre in Somelo and purchase a Toyota Fortuner 2.4-GD6 4*4 for the constituency office.
In Maun West, the proposed projects include, completion of the Sehithwa service centre, construction of an LA2 house in Bothatogo, drilling and equipping of 2 boreholes at Tsanekona and Kgantshaa, paving of road from Spar Tuckshop turn-off to Moeti and continuation of pavement from BDF Complex to Boi’s Bakery at Riverside.
