20 Oct 2014

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele has commended members of the Botswana Homeless and Poor People’s Federation for forming money saving schemes towards housing, land, infrastructure, basic needs and small income generating projects.

Speaking at the federation’s meeting in Francistown on October 17, Mr Siele said saving money would empower and revive the morale of women, particularly those who had given up on life.

He said the federation, which was a network of poor communities that lived in urban and peri-urban areas, would create a platform for members to change their lifestyles and build affordable housing for themselves.

He said the federation’s essence was in line with the national principle of self-reliance and the government’s initiative of poverty eradication.He said his ministry, just like the federation promoted partnerships between the community, the government and the private sector.

Earlier, a member of the federation, Ms Keletso Dambe said the federation united women to fight against poverty in the female headed households as well as against abuse. Ms Dambe said the federation started in Francistown in 2011 with six groups whereby each member saved only P1 daily.

She said in February 2012, members started to benefit from their savings and were able to buy books for their school going children. She explained that currently the federation operated in Selibe Phikwe, Gaborone, Maun, Francistown, and Serowe, and that it has a membership of 1 036 women and 90 men.

Ms Dambe said the daily savings for the federation stood at over P257 000 and that over P160 000 had already been used in various projects. She explained that 150 had managed to install standpipes in their homes, while 35 and 45 members have electricity sewerage connections in their homes.

Another 455 members have paid school fees and bought uniforms for  school going children, while 125 cleared service levy arrears, she said.

She said through the federation members have started jam making, tree production and poultry projects. A member of the federation for South Africa, Ms Maureen Skefu said the federation empowered women not to wait for handouts from government.

Ms Skefu observed that a country where everyone depended on government handouts was prone to unrest; therefore the federation assisted in changing people’s mindset of depending on the government.

A Zimbabwe representative, Ms Sazini Ndlovu said though the federation encouraged self-reliance, governments should support them where necessary. Ms Ndlovu explained that the federation was an international initiative and it also operated in America and Asia. ENDS