20 Apr 2015

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama on Saturday April 18 launched Kweneng District Council (KDC) Community Cluster Gardening initiative in Molepolole.

The President had the opportunity to plant vegetable seedlings in the garden. The initiative is a response to challenges faced in the implementation of backyard gardening as some beneficiaries do not have enough space for gardening while others had water shortage challenges.  

KDC intends to roll out the cluster gardening initiative to seven settlements and other villages where water is available. In settlements, council intends to connect the gardens to boreholes belonging to council which are currently used by residents in settlements to water their livestock and Matimela under care of council.

In an interview, KDC council secretary, Mr Wadza Tema, said the district would primarily be the market for products through its school feeding programme and destitute programme.

 “Kweneng District Council would be the main customers of the cluster garden through buying vegetables for three hostels in Shadishadi, Mantshwabisi and Letlhakeng which will sustain the market for beneficiaries,” he said.

According to Mr Tema, the initiative is the district council’s destitute graduation plan to ensure that vulnerable groups being women, those living with disability, children and youth are catered for through special and targeted programmes. 

“We shall continue to anchor such projects on existing government programmes.” The council secretary said the main target of cluster gardening initiatives is single mothers since the majority of the destitute persons assisted under the destitute programme in KDC were women and single mothers who did not have any form of support but relied on government handouts to raise their children.

He said the cluster garden would not only provide financial benefits to the beneficiaries, but also theraptic because it comprised of contact with nature.  The garden in Molepolole cluster centre comprises of beetroot, carrots, rape and other vegetables.

KDC currently is supporting 13 596 beneficiaries among which 4 871 are destitute persons, 4 119 orphans, 4 316 needy students, 217 children in need of care and 73 community home-based care patients. ENDS