The amount of waste at Local Government is shocking.
One only has to see the kind of cars driven by Council Chairpersons, Council Sectaries, Town Clerks and such officers to realize that officials at Local Government still live in another era.
Even in these difficult economic era when so many public projects have been deferred because there is no money, senior officials at local levels seem not to be embarrassed by opulence, obscene luxury and extravagance all paid for by the tax payer.
Just how is it possible in this era of austerity that a Council Chairperson or Council Secretary is allowed to drive a Land Cruiser SUV that is over P1 million while going for a meeting with an Assistant Minister who arrives driving a BMW 5 series less than half the amount?
Is it not appalling that in Chobe District for example we have Council Executives driving exactly the same Land Cruisers that we see President Ian Khama driving around in?
Where is protocol?
In the rural areas it would seem like Council executives are not much different from little gods.
They go around explaining to the ordinary folks just how Government is unable to build schools, grade roads, build clinics and even feed primary school going pupils while they are themselves able to find millions to entertain their insatiable love for luxury.
Where is the cost cutting and tightening of the belts we often hear about?
Or such terminology does not exist at Local Government level?
What is more annoying is that these are the kind of cars they are not able to buy for themselves in their private lives.
While what the council officials parade is unpardonable and cannot allowed to continue, the important thing to highlight is that it score an absence of systems that are meant to guarantee uniformity and indeed standards across the country.
It cannot be enough to say any Council Chairman and/or Secretary can buy whatever car they want as long as their authority can afford it.
All the money by these authorities comes from the National Treasury, which makes it more imperative to have clear guidelines.
Councils, we have to point out are not the only culprits.
Land Boards are just as evil when it comes to these obscene practices.
While we will be the first to admit that functionality based on use and indeed terrains will all dictate what kind of car to purchase, it also cannot be denied that because of their eagerness to abuse the leeway extended them, almost all authorities invariably go for top of the range derivatives every time they have to purchase vehicles including those that are to be used by their clerical staff.
An end must be brought to this abuse of public funds.
To bring such an end about, there has to be clear guidelines that are mandatory, with a clear schedule on prices ranges while allowing room for functionality and disparities in terrain.
Otherwise we are going to continue seeing the madness continue where council executives think they can buy whatever car they want even during these difficult times.
It is appalling that these people want to use public money to enhance their images when in their private lives they cannot even afford cars half the cost of what they are buying for themselves at the cost to the tax payer.
The Accounting Officers responsible for councils and Land Boards should do an audit of the kind of cars driven by leaders at different authorities across the country.
And we swear the outcome, if published will put us all to shame.
