For the first time ever, the Ministry of Local Government will hold its Pitso at Tonota on the 31st of August 2011. The Pitso offers the Ministry a chance to interact with its stakeholders and further than that consider their contribution for future planning of strategies and programs.
Through the Pitso, the Ministry also aims at consult stakeholders on community development issues, strategizing on issues affecting community development, refocusing Ministry programmes towards community development issues and launch the Community Development Framework among other things.
Also planned for the Pitso is a Panel discussion Session and viewing of stalls to highlight community development projects ranging from pottery, textile, upholstery, and poultry among others. The Pitso themed Building Resilient Communities: Strategies for the Future would be officially kick started by Hon. Lebonaamang Mokalake, Minister of Local Government.
The concept of Pitso has been one initiative undertaken by various entities to engage their stakeholders in pertinent issues around their areas of operations. From this they have been glean problems and solutions. Perhaps the best example would be the Budget Pitso carried by the Ministry of Finance & Development. Year 2011 was the second year running in which the Ministry has conducted series of Budget Pitso for various stakeholders.
Last year, they had a Pitso for the general public, which included the private sector, civil society, academia, media, parastatals, think tanks, and labour unions, and another Pitso for Member of Parliament. The focus of these Pitso last year was on the processes for the preparation of the National Development Plans, the Budget and the Budget Speech itself. This year, the Ministry conducted a Pitso for Local Authorities and another for Ntlo Ya Dikgosi.