17 Apr 2017

Beneficiaries of government funded projects have been urged to show commitment for their projects to progress. 

The Member of Parliament for Nkange constituency, Mr Edwin Batshu told residents of Mabuwe during a kgotla meeting recently that beneficiaries should have the desire to succeed. 

He said the majority of projects funded either through the gender affairs or Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) had collapsed because of lack of commitment on the part of beneficiaries.

The MP, who is also the Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, said after receiving the packages, some of the beneficiaries placed the burden of caring for the projects on those they had employed.

He said despite this, beneficiaries were quick to accuse project coordinators of not making follow ups.

Mr Batshu reminded beneficiaries of the importance to understand their goals of having applied for the packages and the associated costs.

He also told residents that the funding for projects under gender affairs had been suspended to help the department to address the backlog of projects approved for funding.

He noted that by the end of last year, there were 3 825 applications waiting funding.  He added that by the end of the 2016/2017 financial year, the number had reduced to 3 254 which they were working on in the new financial year.

On other issues, Mr Batshu informed residents that the government has established new standard prices for goats, noting that the standard price for a doe was P1 000 while a billy goat could be bought at between P1 000-P2 000. 

He said with such prices, Batswana should take care of their herds to get better returns.

Commenting on the MP’s update, residents said land was a major setback for many, especially the youth. BOPA