North West District councillors are up in arms that the working document for this years drought relief projects has left out the rural poor.

Councillors said during a full council meeting that many people living in poverty at ungazetted settlements would be left out as many projects were slated for Maun.

Ngami and Okavango sub-districts have been allocated P18 million and P13 million respectively for use in the drought relief programme that starts June 1 and ends on April 30, next year.

Cllr Keapoletswe Keapoletswe of Kareng in the Ngami Constituency, said many projects are slated for Maun while many settlements had been left out.

He said drought relief was for the poverty-stricken communities in rural areas and that projects intended for Maun should be re-directed elsewhere.

Mr John Benn, the chairperson of the North West District Council who is also the councillor for Thamakalane South, who is also chairperson, argued that people who had been hard hit were not covered in the drought relief programme.

Mr Benn said elephants had destroyed crops of the rural poor who were excluded from the programme.

What kind of a drought relief programme would it be if the people seriously affected do not benefit, Mr Benn asked.

Mr Gopolang Mokotedi, a nominated councillor, moved a motion calling for debate on the document to be deferred to include settlements that were left out.

Cllr Mokotedi said people would not benefit because many projects comprised construction of LA2 houses hence a substantial amount would be diverted to buying building materials.

He said there were many projects such as de-bushing which could be undertaken. The Councillor for Makalamabedi South, Mr Philip Wright, lambasted district planners for poor planning.

Mr Paulos Nkoni, the council secretary, advised council to adopt the document. Mr Nkoni said if councillors were to defer the debate, people would not benefit starting June 1 because work could only start after council adopts the document which would be during its August meeting.

Mrs Masego Mooketsi, the deputy director of development planning in the Ministry of Local Government, said communities who have been allocated one project that lasts only eight weeks could always request for another project provided they finished the first one on time.

The councils Principal Economic Planner, Mr Godimo Garegope, said consultation was done and that communities came up with the list of projects.

However, some projects were left out because of limited funds. Mr Garegope said settlements left out could always benefit from the contingency funds.

The District Commissioner, Mrs Bernadette Malala, said funds for drought relief are twofold: For relief purposes and to complete projects lacking behind. The council adopted the document. BOPA  

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