RESIDENTS GRILL L/STONE COUNCIL BOSSES

RESIDENTS of Livingstone on Wednesday took management at the Livingstone City Council (LCC) to task to explain reasons for poor public service delivery.

This was during a council organised public engagement with the residents in which the local authority was highlighting its operations.

During the deliberations, former Freedom Ward councillor Saxon Simachembele questioned management at the council why streetlights in Botswana, Mosi-oa-tunya road and other roads in the city were not operational.

Mr Simachembele wondered why the local authority

did not seem to be willing to light up the city.

"What has happened to the street lighting in Botswana road in Dambwa North and other roads in the city? To me, really, I think the council does not want to do its job because these are old projects," he said.

Another resident, Claire Powell, the proprietor of Thorn Tree House and Tented took the local authority to task to explain why there was so much litter in the tourism capital.

Ms Powell asked the council what it was doing about the litter problem and recycling issue where the United Nations (UN) is expected to give Livingstone a US$1 million for recycling of solid waste.

In response, LCC director of engineering services Lifetrey Ndaba said the contractor who was supposed to work on Botswana road had failed to complete the street lighting project.

Mr Ndaba said going forward in addressing the issue, the local authority had decided to finish the project.

He said that on the Botswana road, it was only the connection of the underground cable which transmitted power that needed to be connected.

Mr Ndaba said the council had taken over the connecting of streetlights on other roads just like on the main Mosioa-tunya road and Mandela Street.

Director public health Given Katuta said the local authority was working hard to find a solution to the problem.

What has happened to the street lighting in Botswana road in Dambwa North and other roads in the city? To me, really, I think the council does not want to do its job because these are old projects,” — Mr Simachembele.

Mr Katuta asked the residents of Livingstone to be responsible and desist from disposing of litter anyhow.

He said on the recycling programme, the local authority would receive a US$100,000 together with Chongwe Town Council for sensitisation programmes so that the public can know about the project.