14 Aug 2017

The Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Thato Kwerepe has appealed to all stakeholders to come onboard in the provision of services to the community.

Speaking at the handing over of a guard house that was built by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) at the Centre for the Deaf in Francistown on Friday, Mr Kwerepe said the government alone could not provide everything due to the dwindling national resources.

He said despite the financial challenges, the government had set up an office for People with Disabilities to coordinate government programmes intended to empower people with disability so that their disability does not become inability.

Mr Kwerepe appealed to the community to desist from hiding people living with disability because when they are discovered late it becomes difficult for the government to intervene in their situation.

He said as an evidence of government’s commitment in empowering people with disability, the 1996 Policy on Care for People with Disability was under review and envisaged that its adoption would promote integration of people with disabilities in all spheres of life.

Mr Kwerepe, who is also Ngami MP said according to the 2011 population census, ‘59 000 people in Botswana are living with disabilities and out of them 11 981 are people with hearing impairment.’

He said the numbers of people living with disabilities were increasing and posed a challenge to their provision of services and programmes.

He said community service day was introduced as of one the Presidential initiatives where public officers dedicate the last Friday of the month to serve the community and some government departments expanded the call to provide facilities such as residential houses and other small projects such as the guard house donated by the OAG.

Mr Kwerepe said while the project might appear small it would enhance the security for the learners and provide a dignified working environment for the security officers.

He said as the country progresses towards the Vision 2036 it is gratifying to note that the OAG has embraced the national ideals of botho, compassion and care for the less privileged.

The Auditor General, Ms Pulane Letebele said her office approached the Office of the District Commissioner to help identify where there was need and they learned about the lack of a guard house and toilets at the centre.

She said due to lack of the toilet the guard was forced to leave the gate unattended especially at night to access the ablution facility thereby compromising the safety of the learners.

Ms Letebele thanked Panda Bricks, Matsiloje Portland Cement, CTM employees, BOTASH and OAG employees for their contribution during the construction of the guard house.

She appealed to potential donors to continue assisting the centre as it has a lot of challenges such the need to maintain the buildings. The kitchen, she added was not up to required standard while learners faced shortage of blankets.

The school head, Ms Margaret Chilimba thanked the OAG for the guard house and toiletry for the learners. She said the toiletry came handy as the learners came as far as Ngami and sometimes difficult for their parents to provide the needed toiletry.

The deputy mayor, Councillor Godisang Radisigo applauded the business community for their help despite the challenging financial flow. He appealed to all stakeholders to support and dedicate atleast 120 minutes of their time to the needy in the city.

Councillor Radisigo said the initiative of the 120 minutes was in line with the city’s 120 years anniversary celebrations.The centre started in 1991 with 30 students and four teachers but has since grown to 64 students.  ENDS