12 Jun 2016

Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu, has called upon the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Council to adhere to its guiding principles for it to be effective. 

Speaking at the National Fund for Civil Society Validation meeting in Gaborone on Thursday, Minister Batshu said the NGO Council Policy called for effective participation of all members. 

The minister further said the policy also called for an independent NGO, one which did not rely on government for support. 

He further said there should be accountability and financial prudence. Minister Batshu said there would always be demands from the government and public hence the Council has to work hard as a failure to meet them would lead to inefficiency. 

The minister said being a member of NGO Council carried a lot of responsibilities and they needed to manage agreements in order for them to have a strong team. 

He further called them to assist government in priority areas of poverty eradication, fighting corruption, education, health and civil and national registration. 

The minister said corruption was a social ill which government wanted to totally eliminate while disadvantaged communities do not have access to education. 

He called upon NGOs to help government by identifying people who do not have national identity cards so they could be assisted and access government programmes. 

For his part, NGO Council co-chairperson, Mr Montshiwa Montshiwa said the Council, which had been appointed by Minister Batshu, was still in its early stages hence bound to face many challenges. 

He said NGOs have proved their worth as through the funding they received they were able to create 155 jobs, supporting government’s drive to create employment. 

The NGO Council is appointed by the minister and it has a three-year term.ENDS