10 Oct 2024

Since inception, the Remote Area Development Programme (RADP) has reduced inequalities and addressed the disparities in geographical distribution, as per its design and implementation by the government through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

Giving an overview of the RADP and Affirmative Action Framework strategy, during the Employment Promotion Pitso in Gaborone on Tuesday, the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ms Talita Monnakgotla said the programme  had been instrumental in supporting community development  in remote areas, by providing essential social services and promoting economic growth.

Organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Employment Promotion Pitso was meant to celebrate and reflect on the milestones that government has achieved in promoting youth empowerment and socio-economic development of the country’s remote area communities, through the 10-year plan.

The programme, Ms Monnakgotla said, had several convincing results following multiple provisions to improve its performance. She noted that in 2010 government issued a Presidential Directive directing that an Affirmative Action Framework for Remote Area Communities, be developed.

The framework, the assistant minister said, covered affirmative action in all aspects of social upliftment, such as; employment, training, social and economic development.

She said the framework had for the past 10 years, allowed remote area communities to build their capability to compete for available opportunities meaningfully.

Goals and outcomes of the framework, Ms Monnakgotla said were aligned to the rural development council, for provision of basic services and infrastructural development, agriculture development and food security, support and protection of indigenous knowledge, rural entrepreneurial development and harmonisation of social welfare programmes.

“I will like to emphasise that the RADP is a rural development strategy that seeks to promote equal access to socio-economic development by remote area communities. Currently there are 73 settlements in 17 districts, across the country, including the newly added Danega settlement in Okavango,” she added.

The implementation of RADP continues to improve largely due to embracing of the Affirmative Action Framework strategy across sectors.

The ministry, she said also continued to implement new strategies for monitoring programme performance in remote area communities.

For example, she said the ministry had forged partnership with First National Bank Botswana (FNBB), which had sponsored Mr & Miss RADP with P402 000.

Additionally, she said FNBB had also offered to sponsor five learners, every year, to English medium schools in Okavango.

As part of the implementation of the Affirmative Action Framework, she said the University of Botswana (UB) had also been prioritising students from remote areas when allocating accommodation, as well as for admission in various academic programmes.

She, therefore, thanked all partners who had utilised the framework, as a multi-sectoral approach programme, to support remote area communities and encouraged other companies and tertiary institutions to emulate them.

Sharing her success story, as one of the graduates of the Affirmative Action Framework for RADP, Kitso International College Automotive Mechanical Technology student,  Mr Othusitse Gaogalalwe of  Sorilatholo expressed delight that through the RADP Affirmative Action Framework strategy, he had been able to access education and training opportunities.

From Sepopa and now University of Botswana Bachelor’s Degree of Education student, Ms Neoyame Okwa also thanked government for affording her, as a remote area dweller, an opportunity to enrol at UB for an academic programme of her choice, saying she would work hard to graduate and ultimately pursue a career in the education sector.

Another beneficiary of the programme, from Make, Ms Kediipatletse Serema and also Diamond for Hope employee expressed gratitude for having been afforded an opportunity to share her success story about the programme.

 She thanked government for empowering remote area communities with education and entrepreneurship skills.

Through such skills, she said they had been able to improve their livelihoods, adding that the programme also helped to boost their confidence and sense of belonging in the society.

To inspire the youth, as well as other remote area communities, the event also featured exhibitions where various service providers shared their objectives and mandate.  The exhibitors, included; KIC, Miss Botswana, UB, brainSTREAM Institute of Technology, FNBB, Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development and Labour and home Affairs, Diamonds for Hope and Ed-Tech Learning Institute . BOPA