15 Jul 2014

The Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri has told Parliament that out of 9 936 total funded projects, 
only 1.5 per cent (153) of the poverty eradication beneficiaries have abandoned their projects.

Responding to a question in Parliament from the MP for Gaborone West South, Mr Botsalo Ntuane, Mr Matlhabaphiri said, “this is not only a small percentage but insignificant proportion, which cannot lead to conclusions to the effect that programme delivery is totally ineffective.” 


He said the poverty eradication programme already embraced group projects and clustering of beneficiaries to form cooperatives as it was indicated in the programme implementation guidelines.


The minister said Gaborone West South had a total of 101 funded projects, 37 of which were operational, while 64 were awaiting procurement of equipment and materials. 


Mr Matlhabaphiri said only four projects that were reported to be abandoned were actually those which the owners had relocated to the districts outside Gaborone. 


He said beneficiaries would be transferred officially for continuity of projects adding that Gaborone City Council had started consultative process with department of cooperatives to address cases of abandoned projects, as well as improving sustainability of operational projects through formation of cooperatives.


MP Ntuane had asked the minister if he was aware that the poverty eradication programme although meaningful, was totally ineffective as some individuals who had so far been assisted had abandoned their projects, if so, the minister should state whether cooperatives were not viable alternative; and the number of projects funded in the Gaborone West South Constituency and those that were still operational.
 ENDS