07 Jul 2013

The assistant minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso has expressed concern at the slow pace or non-existent roll out of poverty eradication programme in Ngamiland.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Khwai, Ms Tshireletso said the fact that she did not receive a briefing from Maun Administrative Authority (MAA) on poverty eradication initiatives rolled out to remote areas within Ngamiland was worrying.

“Government employees who are tasked with these projects are not doing what they are supposed to do as indicated by their failure to produce a report,” she said.

She further said it was disturbing that only one youth project was said to have been funded within Ngamiland compared to 213 countrywide.

“With bakeries, only six are in Ngamiland and the rest of the country is thirty-four,” she said.

Residents of Khwai had complained to the assistant minister that even though they have been trained on different poverty eradication initiatives, they have never  benefitted from the programme.

Residents also informed the assistant minister that three of the four houses from the president’s housing appeal initiative have not been completed, and it has been a year since the projects started.

Ms Tshireletso further urged council workers to award locals’ tenders to supply bread to schools within their vicinity. She encouraged the Village Development Committee (VDC) leadership to come up with projects that could be undertaken by Ipelegeng workers.

Ms Tshireletso also lamented the non-existence of the Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) programme in Ngamiland. “In Ngamiland the number of beneficiaries for LIMID stands at zero compared to 972 in the country,” she said.

As for alternative packages for poverty eradication,she said only ninety-five were in Ngamiland against the 736 countrywide.

With regards to the Remote Area Development Programme (RADP), which also looks at affirmative action, she indicated that her ministry has so far sent 275 people to pursue courses in nursing while 103 and 209 students have been sent to brigades and technical colleges respectively,” she said. ENDS