Maun residents have welcomed government’s decision to upgrade Maun Administration Authority (MAA) into a full district council.
MAA is among the 11 sub-districts that will be upgraded in phase one of the implementation of councils’ restructuring. This means MAA would break away from the Okavango Sub-district, which is also among the 11 to be upgraded.
Speaking at a kgotla meeting addressed by Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Sethabelo Modukanele, the residents applauded that the decision will help improve service delivery in the district.
Mabudutsa Ward resident, Mangadi Diako said the decision was long overdue, adding that the development will bring services closer to the people and speed up productivity in the workplace. Diako is of the view that the upgrade will also create employment opportunities and promotions of employees within the councils.
She called on government to develop the infrastructure that include roads, accommodation for workers and technology as the upgrade of MAA and Okavango Sub districts will see a surge in the number of employees.
Shashe VDC Chairperson, Bahentse Rena is of the view that the transformation would create opportunities and developments within the villages in the districts.
However, Rena has urged government to decentralise the decision-making in order to reduce the delays in providing feedback and services on time.
Kgosi Moeti Moeti of Boyei Ward also welcomed the decision but urged government to ensure that the restructuring does not interfere with tribal issues and boundaries as this may cause conflicts. He stated that as the districts is upgraded, the number of Dikgosi will also increase therefore proper procedure will have to be followed when appointing them.
Maun West Member of Parliament Dumelang Saleshando said the most important thing that the public need is accessing services conveniently and well in time, echoing the call for decentralised decision making with the transformation.
He argued that centralised decision making delays developments and service delivery as it burdens central government in the different departments. Saleshando urged government to allow local authorities to resolve issues by themselves.
Modukanele explained that the decision to upgrade sub-councils was meant to help take services closer to the people. He noted that the process will enable the decision making process to be taken closer to the people hence speeding up service delivery.
Modukanele revealed that the process which will cost P63 million is expected to be completed by end of December or within a period of six months, which would be before the end of 2022/2023 financial year.
The Assistant Minister noted that from the 22 sub-district in Botswana they have selected only 11 to be upgraded in phase one looking at their vastness, terrain and population size. He noted that due to budgetary constraints they could not afford to upgrade all the 22 districts.
