28 Jul 2014

The government has spent over P16 million on all Poverty Eradication Dipitso to date.

The Acting Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Shaw Kgathi said about 8 000 people were mobilised across the country for training on the Poverty Eradication Programme, and that they have benefitted from the initiative.

He revealed that for the last pitso held at Qabo in the Ghanzi District, government spent  about P3 million.

“It should be noted that each event is aimed at equipping around 1 000 beneficiaries with entrepreneurial and other life skills that will economically and socially empower them. The goal is to empower beneficiaries through rolling out packages/businesses which are aimed at graduating them out of poverty,” said Mr Kgathi.

He noted that about 11 000 people have received packages under the programme, 2 656 for backyard gardens while 8 439 were for alternative packages.

“Out of this number, 8 213 projects - 1 842 backyard gardens and 6 371 alternative packages – are operational,” said the minister.

He said using the number of people who benefitted as a proxy for graduation, a total of 8 213 have graduated from the programme countrywide.

He added that 58 programme beneficiaries from the Francistown South constituency received the packages and that 39 of the projects were operational.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Molotsi had asked the minister to state the total amount spent to date for all the Poverty Eradication Dipitso held across the country, and whether the programme has managed to graduate beneficiaries.

He also wanted to know the amount spent at the Qabo Poverty Eradication Pitso, and the number of beneficiaries in the Francistown South constituency. ENDS