23 Nov 2017

Parliament has been informed that the number of beneficiaries who were registered as destitute persons in 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 were 30 371, 31 114, 32 696, 34 018, 35 366 and 35 802 respectively.

Answering a question in Parliament on November 22 from MP for Gaborone North, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said the number of destitute persons who graduated in 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 were 49, 52, 224, 337 and 764 respectively.

Ms Tshireletso however said the numbers of beneficiaries had been increasing every year. 

Nonetheless, she noted that graduation of such people did not affect the statistics as more people were also registered at the same time. 

She said the main reasons for new registrations were the increase in elderly beneficiaries who were not able-bodied.

MP Nkaigwa had asked the assistant minister how many beneficiaries were registered as destitute persons in Botswana in the year 2012 to 2017 respectively and how many had graduated from this programme as well as if the number of such beneficiaries had increased or decreased. ENDS