BALA PRESIDENT CALLS FOR ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES

There is need for concerted efforts to help lift economies of local au- thorities, as this will help reduce dependency on central govern- ment for funding, Acting President of Botswana Association of Local Authorities(BALA) Flora Mpetsane has told The Midweek Sun.

The Finance Minister, Peggy Serame has repeatedly urged local authorities to raise funds for their activities, as government is currently working on a shoestring budget. Mpetsane, who has been acting BALA President since July, has stated that, the first step to help boost local economies’, will be to capacitate leadership(councilors) who will then be in a position to articulate better economic opportunities to people living in those communities. BALA has also started a process of capacitating councilors in this aspect. “The informal sector, which employs a number of youths is key to local authorities’ economic transformation,” she added as a matter of fact. Mpetsane who is a councilor in the North East District Council(NEDC), further stated that BALA is also seeking strategic partners who can help with capacity building and funding of projects in local communities. The Association is working with the Local Government Ministry on the implementation of the Local Economic Development(LED) framework.LED is a territorial based approach which focuses on engaging stakeholders to explore opportunities and resources endowment and improve the livelihoods of local communities. “This is an approach to development that every civil leader and for that matter all in local leadership cannot afford to take for granted. The LED approach ensures that no community and/or individual are left behind to derive economic and social benefits from the various development initiatives, programmes and plans,” reads information sourced from BALA website this week. Under the leadership of Mpetsane, North East District has already seen its LED framework approved by the Ministry. Among key achievements that Mpetsane has done since her appointment include stabilization of BALA finances ‘ which were in the Red’ She also led the review of the BALA Constitution and appointed a Task team led by Gantsi District Council which will be presented to the National Conference for approval. Meanwhile, Mpetsane is contesting for the position of President at the ongoing BALA congress in Maun.