29 Jul 2015

Residents of Mokubilo, Khwee and Mmea in the Boteti East constituency will be provided with coupons following the awarding of a new contract for smart card for food baskets.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso told Parliament that the tender would be awarded when the current one expires at the end of March next year.

Ms Tshireletso said currently her ministry had mechanisms in place to ensure that beneficiaries receive full baskets. The mechanisms, she said, include the timeous implementation of annual rationing schedule and the availability of caretakers of Village Development Committee (VDC) members during rationing to monitor food rations and ascertain satisfaction by beneficiaries.

“Furthermore, the council chairperson and the senior assistant council secretary conducted kgotla meetings on May 27 to June 20 in respective areas to enlighten beneficiaries not to sign for anything unless they were satisfied with the food basket and the service,” she said.

Boteti East MP, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe had asked the assistant minister if she was aware that companies and individuals who supply the food basket programme to the needy individuals in Mokubilo, Khwee and Mmea in Boteti East constituency, either supply incomplete baskets or supply the baskets late and that the meat often reaches beneficiaries in a bad state.

He also asked when would she consider introducing the coupon system instead of tenders and when would those people enjoy their full basket as promised by the government. Ends