29 Jun 2017

The Department of Gender Affairs is overwhelmed by applications for various projects.

When responding to complaints about the department on delayed response to applications for projects meant to empower Batswana, an official from the department, Ms Selebaleng Kanokang said upon learning of new developments among them being lenient on the issue of the number of people required to form a group, people responded in great numbers that overwhelmed the office, which is manned by only two officers.

She revealed that there were about 200 applications from Boteti Sub-district Council and about 139 from Serowe Administrative Authority.

Such big numbers, with only two officers overburdened gender affairs department to render swift responses to applicants, she said.

Gender affairs department in Serowe services Mahalapye, Palapye and Boteti sub-districts as well as Serowe Administrative Authority.

However, to ameliorate the situation and fast-track processing of applications, the department has since engaged temporary staff members to help with the reigning backlog.

Although overwhelmed by applications, Ms Kanokang conceded that in the past the office could afford swift responses to applicants since they dealt with manageable numbers.

However, notwithstanding the challenges, Ms Kanokang promised that applicants would receive their responses end of July.

To this, MP for Serowe North, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse appealed to the officers to consult with their clients so the latter could appreciate their challenges because without explanation, the people were justified in airing their grievances.

He said failure to hold consultative meetings reflected badly on government since the latter employed public officers as implementers of programmes.

“There was almost proliferation of complaints that stemmed from your delayed or lack of responses regarding their applications,” said Mr Autlwetse to the officers. ENDS