23 Feb 2016

Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele has implored Mahalapye Sub District councillors to help the Government Implementation Coordination Office (GICO) to carry out its mandate and implement government initiatives.

Mr Makgalemele said this during the opening of the Mahalapye Sub District Council meeting on Monday.

He said the government has realised that many of its programmes were not fully implemented hence the formation of the office.

He appealed to councillors to ensure that people in their respective villages have access to all government initiatives and programmes meant to eradicate poverty and create employment.

He said since they were on ground they have to ensure that the programmes reach their intended beneficiaries, adding that village development committees, village extension teams and village leaders should ensure that people benefit and have access to the programmes.

He said they should also liaise with relevant public officers if some programmes do not reach their intended beneficiaries.

Mr Makgalemele also complained about poor and slow project implementation, saying that they should be productive to make the initiatives a success and to work as a team.

He said only Ipelegeng and the old age pension programmes were active in most villages while some programmes were without beneficiaries.

He said the aim of the government was for every Motswana to benefit from the initiatives and programmes so that they could be able to create jobs for themselves and their fellow countrymen.

On the backlog of poverty eradication programmes, Mr Makgalemele said people who have not benefited would get their package before the beginning of the 2016/17 financial year.

He said the government was aware that many people who were trained to benefit from certain projects have not received their packages, adding that the government was working round the clock to ensure that they do benefit.

He explained that government initiatives, programmes and policies were meant for everyone who qualifies.

 He also appealed to councillors to revise and evaluate the 45 poverty initiative projects, and to evaluate if they benefit their people. He also urged them to  come up with new projects which would be more suitable for their people.

Mr Makgalemele also briefed councillors about the disability allowance and the 10 point agenda. Ends