18 Feb 2013

The 63 graduates of poverty eradication projects in the Mahalapye Sub-district have been assured of support.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony for the beneficiaries, Mahalapye senior assistant council secretary, Mr Mzondik Moswete said they would be fully engaged in project packages. 

He said the council would do its best to buy their products.

The 63 beneficiaries were graduating from catering, hair and bakery courses.

He stated that of the 368 enrolled for poverty eradication projects, only 63 graduated while the rest were absorbed and still on training under different departments.

Mr Moswete said he was happy that Mahalapye Sub-district was not left behind in eradicating poverty and informed the audience that the sub-district’s expenditure on poverty was at 83 per cent.

The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso who awarded the beneficiaries certificates, said poverty eradication had been declared government priority and therefore urged that anyone willing should be given an opportunity to learn skills so that no household would go hungry.

She hailed the sub-district for taking the forefront in embracing the poverty initiatives as per President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s vision of restoring dignity among Batswana.

She encouraged beneficiaries to market their products saying if they did not do that, their existence would not be known. She urged them to open bank accounts so that they could save their proceeds.  

She said by opening bank accounts they would be able to manage their finances as well as audit their businesses. ENDS