18 May 2014

The acting Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi says eradication of abject poverty is one of the priorities in President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s road map, hence the placement of its responsibilities under the Office of the President.

Officially closing the last poverty eradication workshop at Qabo in the Ghanzi District on May 16, Mr Masisi said such a gesture indicated high political will to emancipate the citizenry from poverty.

Mr Masisi said since the poverty eradication regional training workshops, popularly known as nyeletso lehuma started five years ago, it was now time to close curtains on the programme and review it.

“When the trainings started, the president emphasised total consultation across the country, especially with those who are affected by poverty, hence the workshops focusing mainly in rural areas,” he said.

Mr Masisi also hailed the poverty eradication task force for their professional guidance since the workshops started in Mahalapye in 2010, adding that they were instrumental in ensuring that the workshops were tailored from bottom-to-top to make them more relevant to the beneficiaries.

He said poverty eradication training and mentoring had so far covered all constituencies and that government was convinced such trainings would help the country achieve the first Millennium Development Goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.

Minister Masisi advised that Batswana should be concerned by their fellow Batswana’s poverty and own it and he also advised the beneficiaries to learn to visit relevant offices to seek advice whenever there was need and that civil servants were only there to assist, not do the job for them.

He said political leaders were also available to assist people as per their obligation. Mr Masisi also handed over donations of over P23 000 to Qabo Primary School, which included items such as books, pens, balls from various donors, including publishing houses and bookshops. ENDS