20 Dec 2016

Tutume Sub-district Council is working hard to attend to challenges of market barrier that some of the poverty eradication beneficiaries are faced with.

Speaking in an interview recently, acting senior assistant council secretary, Mr Uyapo Mafunye, said though the Poverty Eradication Programme played an active role in transforming livelihoods, issues of market barrier posed a challenge.

“Issues of market barrier have been identified as one of the major challenges that some beneficiaries find themselves trapped in. As such, we are working with other entities to see how possible we could break the challenge,” he said.

Mr Mafunye noted that some of the measures implemented included collaboration with organisations such as Local Enterprise Authority (LEA).

He said through this collaboration, they conducted market days so as to give necessary exposure to the end products of beneficiaries and give out technical support.

He also said other stakeholders such as village leaders, poverty eradication committees and project officers also played a role, noting that they often hosted mini annual shows and incorporate poverty eradication under different categories to address the challenge.

He said since inception of the Poverty Eradication programme, a total number of 381 beneficiaries have been approved and only 259 have been funded.

Mr Mafunye also said a total number of nine projects have been abandoned mainly due to negligence and lack of commitment by beneficiaries.

“The Poverty Eradication programme has shown some significant positive impact on improving the living standards of individuals, families and groups. Some of the success stories include being in a position to improve homes, installation of water and electricity in homes, pay up the bills and other necessities by the beneficiaries,” he said.

Mr Mafunye also indicated that new packages such as welding, popcorn making, jumping castles, and three legged pots have been added to the programme. ENDS