20 Apr 2016

Maposa residents in the Nata/Gweta constituency have appealed to their Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Polson Majaga to request coordinators of government programmes to visit and give them first-hand information on some programmes and how they can access them.

They made the plea at a kgotla meeting on Tuesday at Maposa, noting that although there were a few that have benefited from the poverty eradication and youth programmes, many were not well informed on how they could access them.

The Village Development Committee (VDC) deputy chairperson, Ms Flora Tholi said the few that have managed have received the information through hearsay from friends and other people.She noted that they have never seen any official coming to them to share information on government initiatives aimed at benefiting them.

Ms Tholi added that of late, they have been hearing about the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) and because of lack of communication and information sharing, they no longer understand if it has replaced the existing ones or was an addition to them, more so that they hear that it was also going to benefit Batswana in general.

She argued that even though they were classified as Remote Area Dwellers (RADs) because they were far away from service centres, that should not stop officials from visiting them to give them proper information.

Sharing similar sentiments, Ms Kebalefile Morenga expressed disappointment at the organisers of Presidential Arts Competitions in their area, adding that they often receive information late.She added that often they have to take their application forms to either Tutume or Sowa, which comes at a cost since there was no direct transport to the offices from their village.

Ms Morenga pleaded with their MP that someone should come and give them information on government programmes on a monthly basis as it was their responsibility to inform them on anything that takes place in the constituency.

For his part, Mr Majaga said ministers at the Office of the President (OP) would be disappointed that there were still some Batswana who lack proper information on government programmes, noting that there were officers tasked to disseminate information on how Batswana should access them because they were meant to relieve Batswana from poverty while improving their livelihoods.

Mr Majaga said with improved livelihoods, they would also add to the growth of the economy. He said he would liaise with relevant officers to have the situation addressed as soon as possible. ENDS