DC Warns Trusts Of Internal Fights

Members of community trusts and other village structures have been cautioned from dwelling too much on internal fights which end up derailing them from achieving their mandate.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting in Khwai recently, Ngamiland District Commissioner, Mr Thabang Waloka noted that the fights hindered progress of developments and advised all to introspect and work as a team to drive projects in their village.

“The trust has been granted the responsibility to use the natural resources in a sustainable manner to improve livelihoods but it is worrisome that the members waste time on internal fights,” he said.

He reminded residents that it was important for village structures such as community trust to identify economic projects that could stimulate the local economy and benefit the community.

Mr Waloka said this could be achieved only when members of village structures could have mindset change by doing things differently for residents to enjoy rewards from community trusts.

He said the Khwai community was fortunate as they were residing in an area rich in natural resources hence the need for them to change their mind set and do things differently to enjoy rewards from community trusts.

“As villagers, you can differ in ideas but that should not stop the trust from engaging the community in decision making. If the trust does not listen or underperform, you have the power to call them to order instead of passing motion of no confidence immediately,” he added.

Community trusts, he said were recognised by government as partners in rural development hence they should change the way they had been doing things and focus of on ensuring their respective communities participate and benefit from resources within their locality.

Mr Waloka also appraised them about value chain development and advised them to consider coming up with viable projects to achieve value chain adding that their village comprised of many campsites.

In response, some members of the community accused board of trustees for failing them for 22 years since the formation of the trust. The residents said Khwai Development Trust which become operational in 2000 had not been putting first the interest of the community.

One of the villagers, Mr Brown Yarae said they were allocated a concession but it had not benefited the community as expected since the trust had been marred with indifferences to date.

In 2013, he said a decision was taken to transfer the trust funds to a holding account because of indifferences but in 2016 the community resolved to reverse the decision and this fuelled the infights.

“By then, the trust had P7 million in the account and the bulk of the money was spent to settle court cases and in 2019 when the new board resumes office, the trust was left with P1 million,” he added.

Mr Yarae noted that lack of cooperation between the board and the community hindered progress for derdevelopments.

Mr Joseph Sango concurred that the trust generated millions but it was not benefiting the community as expected. He believed that if people could change their mindset, they could work together and uplift the image of the village.

Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Patrick Brown noted that the community was pinning its hope on the trust to bring development and improve their lives.

He cited that the trust used to have an empowerment initiatives aimed at assisting young people to venture into income generating projects. BOPA