29 Jul 2015

Some intended beneficiaries of the poverty eradication programme have not yet received packages, despite having attended a workshop in 2014, Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Dikgang Makgalemelehas said.

Mr Makgalemele  said he was aware of people who were taken for the Jamakata workshop on poverty eradication, but had not yet received packages in the villages of Mmea, Mokubilo and Mmatshumo in the Boteti East constituency.

The assistant minister explained that there were some variables that needed to be considered when a project was undertaken.

“I wish to state that there are different processes before a project takes off; mobilisation, assessment, training, project delivery, continuous monitoring and mentoring. Delays are usually at different stages, a situation which is not necessarily divisive and my ministry is currently working towards streamlining these processes,” he said.

Mr Makgalemele revealed that out of the 16 beneficiaries who attended the workshop from Mmea, six had been assisted, 28 of the 38 who attended the meeting from Mokubilo had been assisted as well.

He said 54 of the 61 beneficiaries who attended from Mmatshumo had also been given projects.

He said it took long for beneficiaries to be assisted because of the shortage of small stock suppliers in the area.

Mr Makgalemele said the programme had resorted to purchasing small stock from outside the Central District, and that the government has decided to increase the number of procurement officers to expedite the purchasing of small stock, equipment and other materials needed for the poverty eradication packages.

Mr Makgalemele also pointed out that there was shortage of water in the area resulting in delays in water connection for backyard gardens.

“The situation will be addressed by a shift of focus to cluster and community gardens which will tap on borehole and sewage water. Water harvesting will also be promoted,” he said.

Also, Mr Makgalemele said should the need arise for beneficiaries to be given refresher courses, arrangements would always be made for that purpose.

“Government has embarked on clearing all projects backlog by the end of September 2015, therefore the remaining 27 beneficiaries in Mmea, Mokubilo and Mmatshumo who have not been assisted will receive their projects by then at the latest,” he said.

Furthermore, he urged MPs to bring to his attention any disturbing delays from project delivery in their constituencies, given the target they had set to eradicate abject poverty by end of March, 2017.

The MP for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe had asked the minister if he was aware that there were people who were taken for a workshop on poverty eradication “many years ago,” but had not been given their packages in Mmea, Mokubilo and Mmatshumo in the Boteti East constituency.

Mr Lelatisitswe also asked the minister to state their number per village and why it took government long to assist those individuals.

He further wanted to know if he would consider taking them for a refresher course; and when would they be assisted. Ends