24 Mar 2014

Lack of proper planning in the implementation of the Poverty Eradication Programme has cost over 1 000 eligible beneficiaries in Kweneng District.

Kweneng District deputy council secretary, Mrs Baipelelang Photlokwe made this revelation when presenting at a two-day Poverty Eradication workshop for implementers recently. 

Ms Photlokwe admitted that there was delay in the implementation of the programme where only 76 of the 1 200 eligible beneficiaries had so far benefited.  Kweneng District, which has been allocated P16m for use in the programme led the pack of poor implementers of the government initiative. 

The workshop followed the recent Palapye Boot Camp where Kweneng District was cited as the worst implementer of government’s poverty eradication programmes.

Ms Photlokwe said the aim of the workshop was, among others, to identify problems, analyse them and come up with better strategies of dealing with them.

She said some of the challenges included insufficient support from the leadership, Water shortage, shortage of operational land, bureaucratic procurement processes, lack of commitment by beneficiaries and political interference.

She also reported officers’ unhappiness over constant criticisms despite tireless efforts in the delivery toward programme implementation. She challenged programme implementers to ensure change of attitude towards the programme. 

‘We seriously need to ensure introspection as a district because we are not the only district with challenges. The problems we are faced with are not peculiar to our district but a general concern affecting most districts. Let us improve to avoid being accused of sabotaging the programme,” she said.

Meanwhile, Kweneng District council chairman, Mr Motlhophi Leo shared Ms Photlokwe’ sentiments that the district seriously needed to come up with better implementation strategies and change the district’s unenviable reputation.

The council chairperson called on those responsible for Poverty Eradication Programmes in Kweneng to put aside personal issues and focus on delivery.

Mogoditshane/Thamaga sub district community development officer, Ms Malebogo Rakanyane decried lack of team spirit by players in the implementation of the programme. She felt the problem was also due to the fact that most beneficiaries of the programme were not eligible individuals. Ends