25 Feb 2013

The Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi has told Parliament that over P1 million was allocated to the Okavango Sub-district under the Poverty Eradication Programme.

He said the total expenditure for the Okavango Sub-district was at 42 per cent covering approximately 136 projects (bakery, kiosk, leather works and backyard nurseries) benefitting 145 individuals.

The minister noted that graduation from a welfare programme was in process and therefore it was too early to establish who had graduated from destitution as a result of the programme.

Mr Masisi said the current means of survival for beneficiaries was largely welfare support for those who have not yet benefitted from the poverty eradication projects and other government programmes.

He further briefed Parliament that the road map to poverty eradication was launched in October 2010 and that effective implementation of the programme started in 2011. He said the programme started with mobilisation of beneficiaries, training and disbursement of funds initially to the pilot constituencies.

Mr Masisi said North West District was in the second phase of the poverty eradication programme roll out, which started in 2011/2012. "Mobilisation of beneficiaries was done through, among others, kgotla meetings in the whole district," he added.

The minister said a total of 241 beneficiaries were trained in backyard gardening in the Okavango Sub-district, 124 for Okavango Constituency and 117 for the Ngami Constituency.

He noted that delivery of backyard garden materials and backyard gardens was in progress and urged MPs to assist with mobilising communities to increase uptake of poverty eradication projects.

Mr Masisi was responding to a question asked by Okavango MP, Mr Bagalatia Arone, who wanted the minister to state the number of people who have graduated from being classified as destitute in his constituency as a result of the programme since 2008 and their current means of survival. ENDS