16 Feb 2017

 President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama says government has resolved to give the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale the primary task to lead the fight against poverty as a priority area.
President Khama’s announcement followed a complaint by Sekhutlane Village Development Committee (VDC) deputy chairperson, Mr Phemelo Letlhoko who decried the success rate of poverty eradication proposals by the people of Sekhutlane.
Mr Letlhoko had complained earlier during his briefing to President Khama in a kgotla meeting on February 16 that only 23 out of 77 proposed projects received funding, a development he said did not augur well with government’s resolve to eradicate abject poverty.
President Khama told residents that he had since tasked the  portfolio minister being Mr Molale to run with the mandate.
On the other hand, Minister Molale said poverty eradication initiatives needed to be synchronised to bear fruit.
He said assessment of such programmes took into cognisance viability of the proposed projects and the potential impact it might have in the socio-economy of the beneficiary and fellow Batswana.
Minister Molale said it was imperative to always give feedback on proposed projects that did not see the light of day and advice on the way forward.
Thus, he assured residents that government would continue with its spirited fight against abject poverty to emancipate Batswana from its shackles.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane shared Mr Molale’s sentiments, adding that a total of 13 smallstock projects amounting to P106 588 had been funded.
Mr Tsogwane said a further 19 poultry projects had also been funded by his ministry in Sekhutlane.
On other issues, residents expressed discontent about Southern District Council’s decision to make them pay P15 towards both household and livestock watering saying the amount charged was taxing for majority of them.
Council chairperson, Mr Alec Seametso said however the decision was a cost sharing exercise because the day to day operations of the borehole that supplied the village with water proved to be a costly undertaking.
Area Member of Parliament, Kgosi Lotlaamoreng II commended government for the construction of the kgotla offices in Sekhutlane, a project he said would go a long way in helping fight livestock theft rampant in the area. ENDS