Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
13 January 2009
Outgoing Gaborone City mayor Harry Mothei says his dream of turning the city's fortunes around has been hampered by an acute shortage of funds.
Mothei, a specially elected councillor in the Botswana National Front (BNF) dominated Gaborone City Council (GCC), hopes to be re-elected for the third time when the GCC holds its mayoral elections on Thursday.
The mayoral elections are held annually, and last year Mothei was returned unopposed. But the previous year, the outspoken politician caused a storm in BNF circles when he challenged and defeated the party's favourite candidate, Nelson Ramaotwana.
Mothei admits that the city is in crying need of improvement.
" But our development budget is always falling short of our targets. Last year, for instance, we had a budget of P480 million, but we were given only P156 million. Where do you start from when you have your budget slashed by more than 50 percent? The past year was worse because the central government recalled all the funds immediately it was announced that the world is in a recession."
Mothei said they received a directive, which was followed by a reminder in November, as government embarked on a belt-tightening exercise. "It simply meant we had to cancel all the tenders that we had not issued, and return the money to government coffers."
This is the money, which was supposed to be spent on storm water drainage, sealing potholes, road maintenance, and bush clearing.
" Right now all development projects have been put on hold. We were ready to roll out works, but the minister stopped us. It was not a god year as a result of that," Mothei said.
Some of the roads in the city were repaired before the directive was issued, the mayor said.
Mothei also admits that GCC has continued to hound vendors, especially those selling food at the Main Mall, because the law has to be amended so "it is lenient to small traders". The mayor says the law requires food prepared for public consumption to be inspected, which is not the case with the food sold by vendors.
"It is a problem throughout southern Africa. Our governments have not come up with laws that empower the small traders like it is the case in other parts of Africa. Allowing them to run small businesses takes away the pressure from governments as many unemployed people venture into self employment," Mothei added.
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