In order to avoid a compromise of the gains that were made when our country obtained freedom, rural development is one of the more urgent challenges that need to be addressed.

The challenge of rural underdevelopment is further complicated by the rapidly spreading HIV/AIDS) pandemic, unabating unemployment and the resultant cycle of poverty.

Firstly, in the case of South Africa, rural underdevelopment is a direct legacy of the policies of colonialism as well as apartheid. The intention of the two aforementioned regimes was to ensure that the rural areas served as reservoirs of labour for the fast growing industrial areas of the country, and as it were, it was necessary to keep them backward and underdeveloped.

Secondly, the so-called reserves for black people were carefully earmarked pieces of poor quality pieces of land with adverse climatic conditions that were not suitable for any sustainable agriculture. These reserves are normally the hinterland of the rich industrial and mining centers and or the rich agricultural farmlands of the country.

Reversing years of planned rural underdevelopment, is the most daunting task that we as a nation are facing.

The existence of municipalities covering rural areas that fall under the jurisdiction of traditional leaders is a reality that we hove to live with. The issue of the demarcation of the roles of traditional leaders and those of elected councillors is a subject of discussion among the relevant role-players as well as government.

However, as we are confronted with the immediate challenge of underdevelopment, we need to put our differences aside for the moment and confront the issues at hand. Of importance, municipalities alone are not going to be a panacea for rural ills. Rural people know what their needs are and they must be trusted to solve their problems, They cannot as well be left alone in this enormous task, there shall have to be cooperation between the two structures.

Just like the previous regimes planned the underdevelopment of the rural areas, lock of financial capacity for traditional authorities will ensure their eventual demise in the long term.

Examples abound of projects that were successfully undertaken by tribal authorities in the past, e.g. schools, clinics and a variety of other unique projects. Funding came from either poor inhabitants of the rural villages or some donations from the private sector or some charitable organizations.

However, there exists some very essential infrastructure that was started by the very same cash-strapped tribal authorities.

A sizeable amount of the budget for rural development must be set aside to be allocated to legitimate tribal authorities for the sole purpose of addressing rural development needs. Tribal authorities are accountable institutions and they can carry out their responsibilities succinctly.

We agree that municipalities can continue to provide services such as the supply of electricity, wafer, health, sanitation, internal roads, etc.

Such funding will have the desired effect of creating the necessary capacity e.g. technology, manpower skills as well as the desired ownership of development processes.

NKOSI M S ZIBI