MP for Francistown West, Ignatius Moswaane has expressed concern about failure by the City of Francistown Council (FCC) to deliver projects for Selolwe Ward Development Committee office. He said the office was built through the 2018-2019 constituency funds, saying community leaders proposed and agreed with FCC on a plan
Instead, FCC altered the plan to a one office, ablution area and the storeroom structure, saying community leaders were not consulted when such alterations were made. Moswaane said the constituency funds play an integral part in community developments and give community leaders an opportunity to come up with developments, considering the needs of their people. He said it becomes meaningless when proposed projects are not delivered, especially when enough funds are available.
“While FCC is responsible to give technical expert advice and monitor the progress on any proposed project, proper consultations are to be implemented when alterations are made, I am not happy at all with the WDC office built at Selolwe ward it is not what was agreed upon” he said.
Moswaane also indicated that lack of a business plot at Phase 6 has delayed the construction of a mini shopping centre at the area. “A total of total amount of 5 million has been secured through the constituency funds, however lack of a suitable plot is a stumbling block to run the initiative,” he said.
He said the initiative would be handy in efforts to address challenges of unemployment among youth in the area. He further urged community leaders to always come up with proposals that match the funds they request for, so as to avoid misuse of government funds.
Meanwhile, Acting Town Clerk of COFC, Lawrence Mazinyane revealed that the construction of the Selolwe WDC office was proposed and approved to be implemented through the 2017-2018 constituency funds. He said the project was estimated at a total budget of P215 000.00 and awarded at the amount of P198 000.00. He said consultation meetings were held on the 29th November 2017 at Monarch Customary Court and there was never changes about the proposed plan hence the implementation of the project. “Consultation meetings were held to discuss the issues of plans to be implemented, it was agreed that the plan presented which entailed an office, storeroom, and separate toilets for males and females be constructed,” he said.
Mazinyane said community leadership who attended the consultation meetings was the Court President, three honorable councilors and seven members of the Selolwe Ward Development Committee.