27 Jun 2013

A number of Tsabong Sub- councilors are not happy that the implementation of alternative packages meant to fight the reigning poverty in their respective areas is yet to take off.

When responding to the sub-Council Chairman’s speech on June 25, councilor Motlalepula Phihadu of Hereford complained that prospective beneficiaries had been tossed around by government officials responsible for rendering alternative packages.

Councilor Phihadu accused officials, particularly from the offices of the District Commissioner and the ministry of Agriculture, of  incompetence arguing that in some instances poor people who were identified to benefit from such packages had been ordered to be reassessed.

The legislator said she could not understand why there were so many delays in the implementation of the initiative meant to uplift poor people from their current pitiable status.

“I wonder how these officers think that the situation of these people can improve during the waiting,” she queried.

She revealed that in her area some identified beneficiaries who were promised kiosks or tuck shops had been left in the lurch, with some claiming to have heard that the initiative had been stopped.

Councilor Mr Merapelo Mosarwe of Gakhibane/Khawa leveled accusations at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Small Stock Unit, alleging that officers often attributed the problem to shortage of transport to ferry small stock to the intended recipients.

“You can imagine how long since the Poverty Eradication Pitso was held in Struizendam yet people are still to benefit,” councilor Mosarwe thundered, at the same time confirming that the Pitso was in fact held in November last year where prospective beneficiaries were trained on the projects they were to undertake.

“We can’t entertain such excuses because there are private truckers out there who could be engaged to help beneficiaries,” Mr Mosarwe alerted. 

Councilor for Kokotsha, Cllor William Titus opined that failure to implement government’s poverty eradication initiatives would render them useless because poverty levels would continue to escalate.

 He accused administrators of failing to induct beneficiaries on the projects they were to undertake which often resulted in them collapsing.

On other issues, councilors lambasted officers who originated in Kgalagadi for spearheading a culture of nonperformance.

Councilors Albert Rakolele, Mosarwe and Mock Ntau alleged that officers originating from outside the Kgalagadi district were trying their level best but were discouraged by the very people who should be spurning them to outdo themselves. ENDS