28 Oct 2015

Acting Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Mr Dikgang Makgalemele has urged Serowe Umbrella Ward Development Committee (WDC) to devise strategies of creating employment in the village.

Responding to requests put before him by chairperson for Serowe WDCs Mr Gaelwe Kennekae who had requested for the privatization of litter-picking and handing over provision of accommodation for public servants to WDCs inter alia, Minister Makgalemele advised that they invite various experts and public servants who would advise on which sectors of economy to exploit as they seek to do business with and for the government together with the private sector.

The minister also encouraged the umbrella WDC to better equip and inform themselves about government programmes that could be exploited for the benefit of the WDCs whilst also creating employment for members of the communities. 

In his deliberations, Mr Makgalemele informed residents of Serowe that Co-operatives act has been amended in 2012 and allowed them to venture into various sectors. He cited co-operatives as one of the avenues which people could tap in and could be funded from Nyeletso Lehuma coffers. 

Consequently, the acting minister called on the youth to take advantage of co-operatives to create wealth for themselves.

On other issues raised by the umbrella WDC chairperson, the minister suggested that WDCs could use about four days from the 20 working days for Ipelegeng beneficiaries to impart business skills and inform beneficiaries about government programmess available to help them graduate from Ipelegeng whilst simultaneously reducing dependency on Ipelegeng. 

His observation has been that many people ditch other available government programmess for Ipelegeng and has appealed that they venture into others like ISPAAD which he said was not a social programme.

Mr Makgalemele hailed ISPAAD as a programme that, when all the right farming techniques are exploited and proper care for produce is exercised, could enrich farmers to the extent that they could not rely on Ipelegeng for employment, as the later is a relief program.

As part of the ongoing monitoring and improvement of the 45 Nyeletso Lehuma packages and other government programmes meant to uplift the livelihood of Batswana, Mr Mkgalemele informed a packed Serowe Kgotla that government through Government Implementation Coordination Office will before end of December assess the extent at which programmes are being utilised.

Explaining the rationale behind the assessment, minister Makgalemele observed that some programmes may not be well understood or well explained to the intended beneficiaries and hence assessment to determine the way forward. 

For the assessment to succeed, the minister urged all community leaders to partake. Ends