21 Nov 2016

The Presidential Inspectorate Task team spear headed by Mr Johnie Swartz has advised beneficiaries of various programmes in Digawana and Gathwane villages that record keeping is critical to keep businesses buoyant.

A four member delegation also comprising Messrs: Mathias Chakalisa, Nathaniel Tlhalerwa and Ms Gobona Mapitse raised alarm about the risky trend during the tour of the projects in Digawana and Gathwane on Wednesday.

A leader of the delegation Mr Swartz advised beneficiaries to keep records in their day to day errands, noting that the only way to make business right is through documentation of business activities.

He noted that passion is needed in running a business and facilitators ought to do what is necessary to be done emphasizing proper monitoring of projects is needed to make businesses flourish because at the end of the day beneficiaries have to make money.

The Presidential Inspectorate Task team also identified some glitches that result in delay of poverty eradication projects in Southern District that cropped up during their meeting with beneficiaries of poverty eradication, Youth Development Fund, Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) and implementing officers from various departments.

The team identified challenges relating to policy and guidelines issues and lack of proper project supervision.

The team is tasked by the President to help monitor poverty eradication projects in order to push the economic diversification drive and create employment opportunities, the delegation therefore undertakes periodic inspections of government programmes and projects.

The team also provided technical and marketing advice to the beneficiaries that would cushion them against unfavourable business conditions.

Mr Justice Mokgele of Digawana is one of the beneficiaries who experienced significant growth of his business as he started with a tuck-shop and now operates a mini-supermarket and is eyeing a government tender to distribute food grants for disadvantaged people that would propel his business to greater heights.

Another beneficiary who is doing well is Ms Bantle Enosa, a 25 year-old of Gathwane who runs a poultry business and sells 360 eggs per month to LM store in Lobatse.

She has a production capacity of 295 eggs per day and sells to shops and individuals in the village as well as Kanye and villages in the periphery.

She rears 295 chickens and is armed with a poultry handling course credentials that she acquired through government assistance which helps her to keep her business buoyant.

However, for his word councillor for Digawana, Mr Daniel Motlhabankwe told the Presidential Inspectorate Task Team that his village is surrounded by ranches and therefore cannot expand, noting the village would not benefit from other programmes because the land is limited.

He said statistics show that the village is densely populated; therefore he called on government to consider giving them a chunk of land that would enable agriculturalists to practice farming freely. BOPA