24 Jul 2016

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Slumber Tsogwane, has implored village leaders and the village development committees to help government monitor poverty eradication projects.

Mr Tsogwane was speaking during a kgotla meeting addressed by President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama in Mmaphashalala in the Mahalapye East constituency July 21.

He said councillors, dikgosi and VDCs should make sure that beneficiaries took care of these projects and report to social workers if there were any problems.

He explained that these projects were meant to uplift their lives and help eradicate poverty, therefore should be monitored by all.

Mr Tsogwane was responding to Mmaphashalala VDC chairperson, Mr Boitshwaro Koontse, who said there was no coordination and monitoring of poverty eradication projects in the village.

Mr Koontse said they were happy that most of Mmaphashalala residents had benefited from government initiatives but monitoring was unsatisfactory, more so that they did not have a social worker.

Minister Tsogwane said government was experiencing shortage of resources and public officers and it had resolved that in cases whereby villages were close to one another, they must be served by one officer who would then service both villages.

Also on the same issue, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mr Thapelo Olopeng explained that his ministry had partnered with different stakeholders to help them in the mentoring and monitoring of poverty eradication projects and beneficiaries.

Mr Olopeng said MYSC had already partnered with FNB to help mentor beneficiaries either with funds or skills so that they run projects successfully.

He said most of these projects required certain skills and funds of which government did not have enough, adding that even public officers were also thin on the ground.

On other issues, VDC chairperson Mr Koontse explained to the President and his delegation that Mmaphashalala Primary School has over the years been struggling with a pass rate ranging from 45-50 per cent but last year the school did well and obtained 84.6per cent.

He noted that this prompted them to have a victory party and ended up getting adopted by one Mr Ditshupo Maje.

Mr Koontse also pleaded with the government to upgrade their health post to being a clinic since the village was now growing. 

However, he applauded the government for giving them a second nurse. Ends