05 Sep 2016

Southern District poverty eradication coordinator says acquisition of smallstock, poverty eradication backlog initiative within the district has been sailing smoothly.

Mr Kenalemang Tebele attributed the success of the initiative to augmentation of staff and transfer of funds to the district commissioner’s office.

“State president has employed temporary poverty eradication officers and we have seven such officers within our district,” he stated adding that transfer of funds to the district’s commissioner office has substantially helped expedite payments of supplies.

Mr Kenalemang said 230 out of the 2060 operational poverty eradication projects throughout the district are excelling.

Beneficiaries of the 230 success stories according to Mr Kenalemang have since graduated from poverty.

Many such people, he said have improved their livelihoods and have been able to use proceeds accrued from their various projects to send children to school, connect electricity and many others.

That withstanding, Mr Tebele mentioned lack of commitment on the part of beneficiaries, limited market as part of the reason projects are not doing well.

He also said project monitoring is not as regular due to limited resources including vehicles.

“Another challenge also is that of procuring small stock in particular goats. This has proven a difficult undertaking because farmers are not willing to sell at P700 per animal and this has negatively impacted upon the programme,” he said.

Mr Tebele has therefore pleaded with farmers to support government noble poverty eradication initiative to fight abject poverty among Batswana. ENDS