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President Thabo Mbeki's imbizo in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, Free State
6 May 2006
President Thabo Mbeki today concluded his first Imbizo for the year in the Eastern Free State community of Warden Thabo Mofutsanyana District with extensive interactions with municipal leadership, stakeholders and members of communities.
Whereas last year's Izimbizo focused on municipalities under Project Consolidate, this year will in addition, include local stakeholders and communities.
The State of the District Report presented to the President gave an honest appraisal of service delivery challenges faced by the district. These include: problems in access to land by emerging farmers, evictions of farm workers by some farmers in the district, limited and in some instances, lack of technical skills throughout the district's municipalities. The three spheres of government have agreed to embark on short, medium and long-term interventions to address these shortcomings; starting with a joint on 9 May 2006 meeting to refine the Municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).
The Imbizo also saw the President interacting with the local business leaders, commercial and emerging farmers. The stakeholders presented the President with numerous proposals aimed at improving government’s capacity to implement development programmed, thus underscoring the importance of the partnership between government and all critical role players.
President Mbeki noted that after twelve years of working together, business and government were comfortable with one another and must work ever closely to grow the economy and to accelerate development.
In what became a jubilant interaction, the President went door-to-door visiting various households. Residents expressed appreciation of the government’s target to eliminate the bucket system by 2007 to which the municipal leadership reiterated its commitment.
The Imbizo was concluded at Warden where the President listened to concerns by members of the community.
Enquiries: Mukoni Ratshitanga
Cell: 082 300 3447
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS) on behalf of The Presidency
6 May 2006